Variable magnification optical system, optical apparatus and method for manufacturing variable magnification optical system

ABSTRACT

A variable power optical system (ZL) used for an optical apparatus, such as a camera ( 1 ), includes, in order from an object: a first lens group (G 1 ) having positive refractive power; a second lens group (G 2 ) having negative refractive power; a third lens group (G 3 ) having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group (G 4 ) having positive refractive power. The distance between the respective lens groups changes upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto end state. The third lens group (G 3 ) includes: an intermediate group (G 3   b ) constituted by a positive lens, a negative lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens; and an image side group (G 3   c ) having negative refractive power and disposed to an image side of the intermediate group (G 3   b ). Upon focusing, the position of the intermediate group (G 3   b ) with respect to the image plane is fixed and the image side group (G 3   c ) moves along the optical axis.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a variable power optical system, anoptical apparatus and a manufacturing method for a variable poweroptical system.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Variable power optical systems suitable for a photographic camera,electronic still camera, video camera and the like have been proposed(e.g. see Patent Document 1).

PRIOR ARTS LIST Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2006-308957(A)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

A conventional variable power optical system, however, cannotsufficiently satisfy the demand for larger aperture to further implementbrighter lenses, since the F number thereof is about f/3.5.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a variable power optical system having a high brightness andexcellent optical performance, an optical apparatus that includes thisvariable power optical system, and a manufacturing method for thisvariable power optical system.

Means to Solve the Problems

To solve the above problem, a variable power optical system according toEmbodiment 1 includes, in order from an object: a first lens grouphaving positive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power;and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power. The distancebetween the first lens group and the second lens group, the distancebetween the second lens group and the third lens group, and the distancebetween the third lens group and the fourth lens group changerespectively upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, and the third lens group includes: an intermediate groupconstituted by, in order from the object, a positive lens, a negativelens, a negative lens and a positive lens; and an image side grouphaving negative refractive power and disposed to an image side of theintermediate group. The position of the intermediate group with respectto the image plane is fixed and the image side group moves along theoptical axis upon focusing.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system according toEmbodiment 1 satisfies the following conditional expressions:0.4<(−f2)/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<1.1where f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens group, fw denotes afocal length of the variable power optical system in the wide-angle endstate, and ft denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem in the telephoto end state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 1, it ispreferable that the third lens group includes an object side grouphaving positive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 1, it ispreferable that the image side group is constituted by one negativelens.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 1, it ispreferable that the image side group is constituted by one negativemeniscus lens having a concave surface facing the image plane.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 1, it ispreferable that the image side group includes at least one negativelens, and satisfies the following conditional expressions:ndF+0.0052×νdF−1.965<0νdF>60where ndF denotes a refractive index of a medium of the negative lensincluded in the image side group at d-line, and νdF denotes an Abbenumber of the medium of the negative lens included in the image sidegroup.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 1, it ispreferable that the third lens group includes an object side grouphaving positive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group, the object side group includes one positive lens,and the following conditional expression is satisfied:νdO>60where νdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system according toEmbodiment 1 satisfies the following conditional expression:4.0<f4/fw<11.0where f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group, and fw denotesa focal length of the variable power optical system in the wide-angleend state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 1, it ispreferable that the first lens group moves toward the image plane firstand then moves toward the object upon zooming from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 1, it ispreferable that the third lens group includes a vibration-isolating lensgroup which is disposed to the image side of the intermediate group, haspositive refractive power, and moves so as to have a component in adirection orthogonal to the optical axis.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 1, it ispreferable that the third lens group includes, in order from the object:a first sub-group of which position with respect to the image plane isfixed upon correcting camera shake; and a second sub-group used as avibration-isolating lens group which has positive refractive power andcan move so as to have a component in a direction orthogonal to theoptical axis upon correcting camera shake, and the following conditionalexpression is satisfied:1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<5.0where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group, fv denotes afocal length of the second sub-group, and FNOw denotes an F number inthe wide-angle end state.

A variable power optical system according to Embodiment 2 includes, inorder from an object: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a thirdlens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens grouphaving positive refractive power. The distance between the first lensgroup and the second lens group, the distance between the second lensgroup and the third lens group, and the distance between the third lensgroup and the fourth lens group change respectively upon zooming from awide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, and the third lens groupincludes: an intermediate group constituted by, in order from theobject, a first positive lens, a first negative lens, a second negativelens and a second positive lens; and an image side group having negativerefractive power and disposed to an image side of the intermediategroup. The position of the intermediate group with respect to the imageplane is fixed and the image side group moves along the optical axisupon focusing, and the following conditional expression is satisfied:−0.8<(R2a+R1b)/(R2a−R1b)<0.5where R2a denotes a radius of curvature of the image plane side lenssurface of the first negative lens, and R1b denotes a radius ofcurvature of the object side lens surface of the second negative lens.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system according toEmbodiment 2 satisfies the following conditional expression:0.4<(−f2)/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<1.1where f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens group, fw denotes afocal length of the variable power optical system in the wide-angle endstate, and ft denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem in the telephoto end state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 2, it ispreferable that the third lens group includes an object side grouphaving positive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 2, it ispreferable that the image side group is constituted by one negativelens.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 2, it ispreferable that the image side group is constituted by one negativemeniscus lens having a concave surface facing the image plane.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 2, it ispreferable that the image side group includes at least one negativelens, and satisfies the following conditional expressions:ndF+0.0052×νdF−1.965<0νdF>60where ndF denotes a refractive index of a medium of the negative lensincluded in the image side group at d-line, and νdF denotes an Abbenumber of the medium of the negative lens included in the image sidegroup.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 2, it ispreferable that the third lens group includes an object side grouphaving positive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group, the object side group includes one positive lens,and the following conditional expression is satisfied:νdO>60where νdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system according toEmbodiment 2 satisfies the following conditional expression:4.0<f4/fw<11.0where f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group, and fw denotesa focal length of the variable power optical system in the wide-angleend state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 2, it ispreferable that the first lens group moves toward the image plane firstand then moves toward the object upon zooming from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 2, it ispreferable that the third lens group includes a vibration-isolating lensgroup which is disposed to the image side of the intermediate group, haspositive refractive power, and moves so as to have a component in adirection orthogonal to the optical axis.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 2, it ispreferable that the third lens group includes, in order from the object:a first sub-group of which position with respect to the image plane isfixed upon correcting camera shake; and a second sub-group used as avibration-isolating lens group which has positive refractive power andcan move so as to have a component in a direction orthogonal to theoptical axis upon correcting camera shake, and the following conditionalexpression is satisfied:1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<5.0where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group, fv denotes afocal length of the second sub-group, and FNOw denotes an F number inthe wide-angle end state.

A variable power optical system according to Embodiment 3 includes, inorder from an object: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; and a reargroup having positive refractive power and disposed to an image side ofthe second lens group. The distance between the first lens group and thesecond lens group, and the distance between the second lens group andthe rear group change respectively upon zooming from a wide-angle endstate to a telephoto end state, and the rear group includes: anintermediate group constituted by, in order from the object, a positivelens, a negative lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens; and avibration-isolating lens group having positive refractive power,disposed to an image side of the intermediate group and moving so as tohave a component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 3, it ispreferable that the rear group includes at least a third lens grouphaving positive refractive power and disposed closest to the object,each distance between lenses constituting the third lens group isconstant upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, the third lens group includes the intermediate group, and thefollowing conditional expression is satisfied:1.0<f3/ΔT3<2.2where ΔT3 denotes a moving distance of the third lens group upon zoomingfrom the wide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, and f3 denotesa focal length of the third lens group.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 3, it ispreferable that the rear group includes an object side group havingpositive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 3, it ispreferable that the vibration-isolating lens group is constituted by onepositive lens.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 3, it ispreferable that the vibration-isolating lens group is constituted by onebiconvex lens.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 3 it ispreferable that the vibration-isolating lens group includes at least onepositive lens, and satisfies the following conditional expressions:ndVR+0.0052×νdVR−1.965<0νdVR>60where ndVR denotes a refractive index of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the vibration-isolating lens group at d-line, and νdVRdenotes an Abbe number of the medium of the positive lens included inthe vibration-isolating lens group.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 3, it ispreferable that the rear group includes an object side group havingpositive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group, the object side group includes one positive lens,and the following conditional expressions is satisfied:νdO>60where νdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 3, it ispreferable that the rear group includes a plurality of lens groups, eachdistance between the plurality of lens groups included in the rear groupchanges upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, and when a lens group closest to the image, out of the pluralityof lens groups, is a final lens group, the following conditionalexpression is satisfied:4.0<fr/fw<11.0where fr denotes a focal length of the final lens group, and fw denotesa focal length of the variable power optical system in the wide-angleend state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 3, it ispreferable that the rear group includes, in order from the object, athird lens group having positive refractive power and a fourth lensgroup, the distance between the third lens group and the fourth lensgroup changes upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to thetelephoto end state, the third lens group includes at least theintermediate lens group, and the following conditional expression issatisfied:0.9<f3/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<2.0where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group, fw denotes afocal length of the variable power optical system in the wide-angle endstate, and ft denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem in the telephoto end state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 3, it ispreferable that the first lens group moves toward the image plane firstand then moves toward the object upon zooming from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state.

A variable power optical system according to Embodiment 4 includes, inorder from an object: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; and a reargroup having positive refractive power, and the rear group includes atleast a third lens group having positive refractive power and disposedclosest to the object in the rear group. The distance between the firstlens group and the second lens group, and the distance between thesecond lens group and the rear group changes respectively and eachdistance between lenses constituting the third lens group is constantupon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state. Thethird lens group includes, in order from the object: a first sub-groupof which position with respect to the image plane is fixed uponcorrecting camera shake; and a second sub-group used as avibration-isolating lens group which has positive refractive power andcan move so as to have a component in a direction orthogonal to theoptical axis upon correcting camera shake, and the following conditionalexpression is satisfied:1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<5.0where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group, fv denotes afocal length of the second sub-group, and FNOw denotes an F number inthe wide-angle end state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 4, it ispreferable that the first sub-group includes an intermediate groupconstituted by, in order from the object, a positive lens, a negativelens, a negative lens and a positive lens.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 4, it ispreferable that the first sub-group includes an object side group havingpositive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 4, it ispreferable that the second sub-group is constituted by one positivelens.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 4, it ispreferable that the second sub-group is constituted by one biconvexlens.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 4, it ispreferable that the second sub-group includes at least one positivelens, and satisfies the following conditional expressions:ndVR+0.0052×νdVR−1.965<0νdVR>60where ndVR denotes a refractive index of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the second sub-group at d-line, and νdVR denotes an Abbenumber of the medium of the positive lens included in the secondsub-group.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 4, it ispreferable that the first sub-group includes: an intermediate groupconstituted by, in order from the object, a positive lens, a negativelens, a negative lens, and a positive lens; and an object side grouphaving positive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group, the object side group includes one positive lens,and the following conditional expression is satisfied:νdO>60where νdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 4, it ispreferable that the rear group includes a plurality of lens groups, eachdistance between the plurality of lens groups included in the rear groupchanges upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, and when a lens group closest to the image, out of the pluralityof lens groups, is a final lens group, the following conditionalexpression is satisfied:4.0<fr/fw<11.0where fr denotes a focal length of the final lens group, and fw denotesa focal length of the variable power optical system in the wide-angleend state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 4, it ispreferable that the rear group includes, in order from the object, thethird lens group and the fourth lens group, the distance between thethird lens group and the fourth lens group Changes upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the third lens groupincludes at least the intermediate lens group, and the followingconditional expression is satisfied:0.9<f3/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<2.0where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group, fw denotes afocal length of the variable power optical system in the wide-angle endstate, and ft denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem in the telephoto end state.

In the variable power optical system according to Embodiment 4, it ispreferable that the first lens group moves toward the image plane firstand then moves toward the object upon zooming from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state.

An optical apparatus according to the present invention includes any oneof the above mentioned variable power optical systems according toEmbodiment 1.

An optical apparatus according to the present invention includes any oneof the above mentioned variable power optical systems according toEmbodiment 2.

An optical apparatus according to the present invention includes any oneof the above mentioned variable power optical systems according toEmbodiment 3.

An optical apparatus according to the present invention includes any oneof the above mentioned variable power optical systems according toEmbodiment 4.

A manufacturing method for a variable power optical system according tothe present invention is a manufacturing method for a variable poweroptical system which includes, in order from an object: a first lensgroup having positive refractive power; a second lens group havingnegative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractivepower; and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power. Themethod includes: disposing each lens group so that the distance betweenthe first lens group and the second lens group, the distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, and the distance between thethird lens group and the fourth lens group change respectively uponzooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state; andconfiguring the third lens group so as to include: an intermediate groupconstituted by, in order from the object, a positive lens, a negativelens, a negative lens, and a positive lens; and an image side grouphaving negative refractive power and disposed to an image side of theintermediate group, and disposing the third lens group so that theposition of the intermediate group with respect to the image plane isfixed and the image side group moves along the optical axis uponfocusing.

A manufacturing method for a variable power optical system according tothe present invention is a manufacturing method for a variable poweroptical system which includes, in order from an object: a first lensgroup having positive refractive power; a second lens group havingnegative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractivepower; and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power. Themethod includes: disposing each lens group so that the distance betweenthe first lens group and the second lens group, the distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, and the distance between thethird lens group and the fourth lens group change respectively uponzooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state;configuring the third lens group so as to include: an intermediate groupconstituted by, in order from the object, a positive lens, a negativelens, a negative lens, and a positive lens; and an image side grouphaving negative refractive power and disposed to an image side of theintermediate group, and disposing the third lens group so that theposition of the intermediate group with respect to the image plane isfixed and the image side group moves along the optical axis uponfocusing; and disposing each lens group so that the followingconditional expression is satisfied:0.4<(−f2)/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<1.1where f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens group, fw denotes afocal length of the variable power optical system in the wide-angle endstate, and ft denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem in the telephoto end state.

A manufacturing method for a variable power optical system according tothe present invention is a manufacturing method for a variable poweroptical system which includes, in order from an object: a first lensgroup having positive refractive power; a second lens group havingnegative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractivepower; and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power. Themethod includes: disposing each lens group so that the distance betweenthe first lens group and the second lens group, the distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, and the distance between thethird lens group and the fourth lens group change respectively uponzooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state;configuring the third lens group so as to include: an intermediate groupconstituted by, in order from the object, a first positive lens, a firstnegative lens, a second negative lens, and a second positive lens; andan image side group having negative refractive power and disposed to animage side of the intermediate group, and disposing the third lens groupso that the position of the intermediate group with respect to the imageplane is fixed and the image side group moves along the optical axisupon focusing; and disposing the third lens group so that the followingconditional expression is satisfied:−0.8<(R2a+R1b)/(R2a−R1b)<0.5where R2a denotes a radius of curvature of an image side lens surface ofthe first negative lens, and R1b denotes a radius of curvature of anobject side lens surface of the second negative lens.

A manufacturing method for a variable power optical system according tothe present invention is a manufacturing method for a variable poweroptical system which includes, in order from an object: a first lensgroup having positive refractive power; a second lens group havingnegative refractive power; and a rear group having positive refractivepower and disposed to an image side of the second lens group. The methodincludes: disposing each lens group so that the distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, and the distance between thesecond lens group and the rear lens group change respectively uponzooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state; anddisposing, in the rear group: an intermediate group constituted by, inorder from the object, a positive lens, a negative lens, a negativelens, and a positive lens; and a vibration-isolating lens group havingpositive refractive power, disposed to an image side of the intermediategroup and moving so as to have a component in a direction orthogonal tothe optical axis.

A manufacturing method for a variable power optical system according tothe present invention is a manufacturing method for a variable poweroptical system which includes, in order from an object: a first lensgroup having positive refractive power; a second lens group havingnegative refractive power; and a rear group having positive refractivepower and disposed to an image side of the second lens group. The methodincludes: disposing each lens group so that the distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, and the distance between thesecond lens group and the rear group change respectively upon zoomingfrom a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state; disposing, in therear group: an intermediate group constituted by, in order from theobject, a positive lens, a negative lens, a negative lens and a positivelens; and a vibration-isolating lens group having positive refractivepower, disposed to an image side of the intermediate group and moving soas to have a component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis;disposing, in the rear group, at least a third lens group havingpositive refractive power and disposed closest to the object; disposingthe third lens group so that each distance between lenses constitutingthe third lens group is constant upon zooming from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state; disposing the third lens group so asto include the intermediate group; and disposing the third lens group sothat the following conditional expression is satisfied:1.0<f3/ΔT3<2.2where ΔT3 denotes a moving distance of the third lens group upon zoomingfrom the wide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, and f3 denotesa focal length of the third lens group.

A manufacturing method for a variable power optical system according tothe present invention is a manufacturing method for a variable poweroptical system which includes, in order from an object: a first lensgroup having positive refractive power; a second lens group havingnegative refractive power; and a rear group having positive refractivepower. The method includes: disposing, in the rear group, at least athird lens group having positive refractive power and disposed closestto the object in the rear group; disposing each lens group so that thedistance between the first lens group and the second lens group, and thedistance between the second lens group and the rear group changerespectively, and each distance between lenses constituting the thirdlens group is constant upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to atelephoto end state; disposing, in the third lens group and in orderfrom the object: a first sub-group of which position with respect to theimage plane is fixed upon correcting camera shake; and a secondsub-group used as a vibration-isolating lens group which has positiverefractive power and can move so as to have a component in a directionorthogonal to the optical axis upon correcting camera shake; anddisposing each lens group so that the following conditional expressionis satisfied:1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<5.0where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group, fv denotes afocal length of the second sub-group, and FNOw denotes an F number inthe wide-angle end state.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, a variable power optical systemhaving a high brightness and excellent optical performance, an opticalapparatus that includes this variable power optical system, and amanufacturing method for this variable power optical system can beprovided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view depicting a lens configuration of avariable power optical system according to Example 1;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 1 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 2A are graphs showing various aberrations in the wide-angleend state, and FIG. 2B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the wide-angle end state;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 1 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 3A are graphs showing various aberrations in the intermediatefocal length state, and FIG. 3B are graphs showing coma aberrations whenimage blur is corrected in the intermediate focal length state;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 1 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 4A are graphs showing various aberrations in the telephotoend state, and FIG. 4B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the telephoto end state;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable power optical system according to Example 1 upon focusing on aclose point, where FIG. 5A shows the wide-angle end state, FIG. 5B showsthe intermediate focal length state, and FIG. 5C shows the telephoto endstate;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view depicting a lens configuration of avariable power optical system according to Example 2;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 2 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 7A are graphs showing various aberrations in the wide-angleend state, and FIG. 7B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the wide-angle end state;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 2 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 8A are graphs showing various aberrations in the intermediatefocal length state, and FIG. 8B are graphs showing coma aberrations whenimage blur is corrected in the intermediate focal length state;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 2 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 9A are graphs showing various aberrations in the telephotoend state, and FIG. 9B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the telephoto end state;

FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable power optical system according to Example 2 upon focusing on aclose point, where FIG. 10A shows the wide-angle end state, FIG. 10Bshows the intermediate focal length state, and FIG. 10C shows thetelephoto end state;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view depicting a lens configuration of avariable power optical system according to Example 3;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 3 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 12A are graphs showing various aberrations in the wide-angleend state, and FIG. 12B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the wide-angle end state;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 3 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 13A are graphs showing various aberrations in theintermediate focal length state, and FIG. 13B are graphs showing comaaberrations when image blur is corrected in the intermediate focallength state;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 3 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 14A are graphs showing various aberrations in the telephotoend state, and FIG. 14B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the telephoto end state;

FIGS. 15A, 15B and 15C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable power optical system according to Example 3 upon focusing on aclose point, where FIG. 15A shows the wide-angle end state, FIG. 15Bshows the intermediate focal length state, and FIG. 15C shows thetelephoto end state;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view depicting a lens configuration of avariable power optical system according to Example 4;

FIGS. 17A and 17B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 4 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 17A are graphs showing various aberrations in the wide-angleend state, and FIG. 17B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the wide-angle end state;

FIGS. 18A and 18B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 4 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 18A are graphs showing various aberrations in theintermediate focal length state, and FIG. 18B are graphs showing comaaberrations when image blur is corrected in the intermediate focallength state;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 4 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 19A are graphs showing various aberrations in the telephotoend state, and FIG. 19B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the telephoto end state;

FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable power optical system according to Example 4 upon focusing on aclose point, where FIG. 20A shows the wide-angle end state, FIG. 20Bshows the intermediate focal length state, and FIG. 20C shows thetelephoto end state;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view depicting a lens configuration of avariable power optical system according to Example 5;

FIGS. 22A and 22B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 5 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 22A are graphs showing various aberrations in the wide-angleend state, and FIG. 22B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the wide-angle end state;

FIGS. 23A and 23B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 5 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 23A are graphs showing various aberrations in theintermediate focal length state, and FIG. 23B are graphs showing comaaberrations when image blur is corrected in the intermediate focallength state;

FIGS. 24A and 24B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 5 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 24A are graphs showing various aberrations in the telephotoend state, and FIG. 24B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the telephoto end state;

FIGS. 25A, 25B and 25C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable power optical system according to Example 5 upon focusing on aclose point, where FIG. 25A shows the wide-angle end state, FIG. 25Bshows the intermediate focal length state, and FIG. 25C shows thetelephoto end state;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view depicting a lens configuration of avariable power optical system according to Example 6;

FIGS. 27A and 27B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 6 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 27A are graphs showing various aberrations in the wide-angleend state, and FIG. 27B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the wide-angle end state;

FIGS. 28k and 28B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 6 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 28k are graphs showing various aberrations in theintermediate focal length state, and FIG. 28B are graphs showing comaaberrations when image blur is corrected in the intermediate focallength state;

FIGS. 29A and 29B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablepower optical system according to Example 6 upon focusing on infinity,where FIG. 29A are graphs showing various aberrations in the telephotoend state, and FIG. 29B are graphs showing coma aberrations when imageblur is corrected in the telephoto end state;

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of a camera that includes the variablepower optical system;

FIG. 31 is a flow chart depicting a manufacturing method for thevariable power optical system according to Embodiment 1 represented byExample 1 to Example 5;

FIG. 32 is a flow chart depicting a manufacturing method for thevariable power optical system according to Embodiment 2 represented byExample 1 to Example 5;

FIG. 33 is a flow chart depicting a manufacturing method for thevariable power optical system according to Embodiment 3 represented byExample 1 to Example 6; and

FIG. 34 is a flow chart depicting a manufacturing method for thevariable power optical system according to Embodiment 4 represented byExample 1 to Example 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the drawings. Many of the composing elements in Embodiments1 to 4 are the same or similar, therefore same or similar components aredescribed using a same drawing (same reference symbol) for convenienceof explanation.

Embodiment 1

Embodiment 1 will now be described with reference to the drawings. Asshown in FIG. 1, a variable power optical system ZL according toEmbodiment 1 includes, in order from an object: a first lens group G1having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negativerefractive power; a third lens group G3 having positive refractivepower; and a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractive power. Inthis variable power optical system ZL, the distance between the firstlens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the distance between thesecond lens group G2 and the third lens group G3, and the distancebetween the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 changerespectively upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. In this variable power optical system ZL, the third lensgroup G3 includes: an intermediate group G3 b constituted by, in orderfrom the object, a positive lens, a negative lens, a negative lens and apositive lens; and an image side group G3 c having negative refractivepower and disposed to the image side of the intermediate group G3 b, andfocusing is performed from infinity to an object at close distance bymoving the image side group G3 c along the optical axis in a state offixing the position of the intermediate group G3 b with respect to theimage plane. By configuring the variable power optical system ZL of thisembodiment in this way, excellent optical performance can be implementedwith bright lenses having small (or bright) F numbers. In other words,the intermediate group G3 b of the third lens group G3 is constituted byfour lenses having a symmetric structure (positive, negative, negative,positive), whereby spherical aberration, curvature of field, and comaaberration can be corrected well while keeping the F numbers small forhigh brightness. If an aperture stop S is disposed between the secondlens group G2 and the third lens group G3 (or to the object side of thethird lens group G3), and focusing is performed by the image side groupG3 c disposed to the image side of the intermediate group G3 b, thedistance between the aperture stop S and the focusing lens group can beincreased, and fluctuation of the image plane upon focusing can becontrolled. “Lens component” refers to a single lens or to a cementedlens where a plurality of lenses are cemented.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system ZL according tothis embodiment satisfies the following conditional expression (1).0.4<(−f2)/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<1.1  (1)where f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens group G2, fw denotesa focal length of the variable power optical system ZL in the wide-angleend state, and ft denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem ZL in the telephoto end state.

The conditional expression (1) specifies a focal length of the secondlens group G2. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression(1) is exceeded, the refractive power of the second lens group G2decreases, hence the moving distance upon zooming increases and thetotal length of the optical system increases, which is not desirable. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with certainty, it is preferablethat the upper limit value of the conditional expression (1) is 1.0. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention to the maximum, it is preferablethat the upper limit value of the conditional expression (1) is 0.9. Onthe other hand, if the lower limit value of the conditional expression(1) is not reached, the refractive power of the second lens group G2increases, and curvature of field and astigmatism cannot be correctedwell, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the inventionwith certainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value of theconditional expression (1) is 0.5. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (1) is 0.6.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the third lens group G3 includes an object side groupG3 a having positive refractive power and disposed to the object side ofthe intermediate group G3 b. By this configuration, even better opticalperformance can be implemented with bright lenses having small (bright)F numbers. Further high-order spherical aberration, which tends to begenerated in bright lenses, can be corrected well.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the image side group G3 c, which is included in thethird lens group G3 and is used for focusing, is constituted by onenegative lens. By this configuration, the focusing lens can be lighterand focusing speed can be easily increased. Further, it is preferablethat the image side group G3 c is constituted by one negative meniscuslens having a concave surface facing the image plane. By thisconfiguration, fluctuation of spherical aberration generated uponfocusing can be controlled, and high speed focusing can be implemented.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the image side group G3 c included in the third lensgroup G3 has at least one negative lens, and this negative lenssatisfies the following conditional expression (2).ndF+0.0052×νdF−1.965<0  (2)where ndF denotes a refractive index of a medium of the negative lensincluded in the image side group G3 c at d-line.

The conditional expression (2) specifies the refractive index of themedium of the negative lens included in the image side group G3 c atd-line. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression (2) isexceeded, glass material having relatively high refractive power andhigh color dispersibility must be used for this negative lens, andlongitudinal chromatic aberration cannot be corrected well in a rangefrom infinity to an object at a close distance upon focusing, which isnot desirable.

It is preferable that the negative lens included in the image side groupG3 c of the third lens group G3 satisfies the following conditionalexpression (3).νdF>60  (3)where νdF denotes an Abbe number of the medium of the negative lensincluded in the image side group G3 c.

The conditional expression (3) specifies an Abbe number of the medium ofthe negative lens included in the image side group G3 c. If the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (3) is not reached,dispersibility of the focusing lens increases, and longitudinalchromatic aberration, which tends to stand out in a bright lens, cannotbe corrected sufficiently in the range from infinity to an object atclose distance upon focusing, which is not desirable. To demonstrate theeffect of the invention with certainty, it is preferable that the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (3) is 62.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, ifthe third lens group G3 includes an object side group G3 a havingpositive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group G3 b, it is preferable that this object side group G3a includes one positive lens and satisfies the following conditionalexpression (4).νdO>60  (4)where νdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group G3 a.

The conditional expression (4) specifies the Abbe number of the mediumof the positive lens included in the object side group G3 a of the thirdlens group G3. If the lower limit value of the conditional expression(4) is not reached, longitudinal chromatic aberration, which tends to begenerated in bright lenses, increases, and correction thereof becomesdifficult, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention with certainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (4) is 62. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (4) is 65.

It is preferable that that the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment satisfies the following conditionalexpression (5).4.0<f4/fw<11.0  (5)where f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group G4, and fwdenotes a focal length of the variable power optical system ZL in thewide-angle end state.

The conditional expression (5) specifies the focal length of the fourthlens group G4. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression(5) is exceeded, the refractive power of the fourth lens group G4decreases, and correction of curvature of field upon zooming becomesdifficult, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention with certainty, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (5) is 10.0. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (5) is 9.0. On the other hand, if the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (5) is not reached, therefractive power of the fourth lens group G4 increases, and correctionof distortion becomes difficult, and back focus cannot be secured, whichis not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value of theconditional expression (5) is 5.0. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (5) is 6.0.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the first lens group G1 moves toward the image planefirst, then moves toward the object upon zooming from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state. By this configuration, the diameter ofthe first lens group G1 is kept small while preventing abaxial lightinterrupt when the distance between the first lens group G1 and thesecond lens group G2 is increased, and a sudden change of distortion canbe controlled.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the third lens group G3 is disposed to the image sideof the intermediate group G3 b, and includes an image side group havingpositive refractive power, and camera shake (image blur) is corrected byusing this image side group as a vibration-isolating lens group(hereafter called “vibration-isolating lens group G32”) that moves so asto have a component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis in astate of fixing the position of the intermediate group G3 b with respectto the image plane. By disposing the vibration-isolating lens group G32having positive refractive power to the image side of the intermediategroup G3 b in this way, a vibration-isolating function can be providedwithout increasing the number of lenses of the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32, even if bright lenses having small (bright) F numbers areused.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the third lens group G3 includes, in order from theobject: a first sub-group G31; and a second sub-group G32 havingpositive refractive power. And the camera shake (image blur) iscorrected using a second sub-group G32 as a vibration-isolating lensgroup, which moves so as to have a component in a direction orthogonalto the optical axis in a state of fixing the position of the firstsub-group G31 with respect to the image plane. If the second sub-group(vibration-isolating lens group) G32 having positive refractive power isdisposed to the image side of the first sub-group G31 in this way, avibration-isolating function can be provided without increasing thenumber of lenses of the second sub-group (vibration-isolating lensgroup) G32, even if the bright lenses with small (bright) F numbers areused.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system ZL according tothis embodiment satisfies the following conditional expression (6).1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<5.0  (6)where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group G3, fv denotes afocal length of the second sub-group G32, and FNOw denotes an F numberin the wide-angle end state.

The conditional expression (6) specifies the focal length of the secondsub-group G32, used as the vibration-isolating lens group, and the focallength of the third lens group G3. If the upper limit value of theconditional expression (6) is exceeded, the refractive power of thesecond sub-group G32 decreases. Further, the moving distance of thesecond sub-group G32 upon vibration isolation (upon image blurcorrection) increases, and the diameter of the second sub-group G32increases, which makes the second sub-group G32 heavier, and makes itdifficult to correct eccentric coma aberration well upon vibrationisolation, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention with certainty, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (6) is 4.5. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (6) is 4.0. On the other hand, if the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (6) is not reached, therefractive power of the second sub-group G32 increases, and eccentricastigmatism and eccentric coma aberration cannot be corrected well uponvibration isolation, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effectof the invention with certainty, it is preferable that the lower limitvalue of the conditional expression (6) is 1.6. To demonstrate theeffect of the invention with even higher certainty, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (6) is 1.8. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention to the maximum, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (6) is 2.2.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, atleast one positive lens component may or may not be disposed between theintermediate group G3 b and the image side group G3 c of the third lensgroup G3. In the same manner, the object side group G3 a disposed to theobject side of the intermediate group G3 b of the third lens group G3may be omitted. In the four lenses (positive, negative, negative,positive) included in the intermediate group G3 b, the positive lens andthe negative lens may be cemented or each lens may be disposed as asingle lens respectively.

By the above configuration, a variable power optical system ZL havinghigh brightness and excellent optical performance can be provided.

A camera, which is an optical apparatus including the variable poweroptical system ZL according to this embodiment, will be described withreference to FIG. 30. This camera 1 is an interchangeable lens typemirrorless camera that includes the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment as an image capturing lens 2. In thiscamera 1, the light from an object (not illustrated) is collected by theimage capturing lens 2, and forms an object image on an image plane ofthe imaging unit 3 via an OLPF (Optical Low-Pass Filter), which is notillustrated. Then the object image is photo-electric converted by aphoto-electric conversion element disposed in the imaging unit 3,whereby the image of the object is generated. This image is displayed onan EVF (Electronic View Finder) 4 disposed in the camera 1. Thereby theuser can view the object via the EVF 4.

If a release button (not illustrated) is pressed by the user, thephoto-electric-converted image is stored in a memory (not illustrated)by the imaging unit 3. Thus the user can capture the image of the objectusing this camera 1. In this embodiment, an example of the mirrorlesscamera was described, but an effect similar to the case of this camera 1can be demonstrated even when the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment may be included in a single lens reflextype camera, which has a quick return mirror in the camera main unit andviews the object using a finder optical system.

The following content can be adopted within a range where the opticalperformance is not diminished.

In this example, the variable power optical system ZL constituted byfour lens groups was shown, but the present invention can also beapplied to a configuration using a different number of lens groups, suchas five lens groups or six lens groups. A lens or a lens group may beadded to the configuration on the side closest to the object, or a lensor a lens group may be added to the configuration on the side closest tothe image. “Lens group” refers to a portion having at least one lensisolated by an air space which changes upon zooming. In the variablepower optical system ZL of this embodiment, the first lens group G1 tothe fourth lens group G4 move along the optical axis respectively, suchthat each air space between the lens groups changes upon zooming.

A single or plurality of lens group(s) or a partial lens group may bedesigned to be a focusing lens group, which performs focusing from anobject at infinity to an object at a close distance by moving in theoptical axis direction. This focusing lens group can be applied to autofocus, and is also suitable for driving a motor for auto focusing(driving using an ultrasonic motor or the like). It is particularlypreferable that a part of the third lens group G3 (image side group G3c, as mentioned above) is designed to be the focusing lens group, andthe positions of other lenses with respect to the image plane arepreferably fixed upon focusing.

A lens group or a partial lens group may be designed to be avibration-isolating lens group, which corrects image blurs generated bycamera shake, by moving the lens group or the partial lens group so asto have a component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis orrotating (oscillating) the lens group or the partial lens group in anin-plane direction that includes the optical axis. It is particularlypreferable that at least a part of the third lens group G3 (e.g. lensdisposed to the image side of the four lenses (positive, negative,negative, positive) of the intermediate group G3 b) is designed to bethe vibration-isolating lens group.

The lens surface may be formed to be a spherical surface or a plane, oran aspherical surface. If the lens surface is a spherical surface or aplane, lens processing, assembly and adjustment are easy, anddeterioration of optical performance, due to an error generated inprocessing, assembly and adjustment, can be prevented. Even if the imageplane is shifted, the drawing performance is not affected very much,which is desirable. If the lens surface is aspherical, the asphericalsurface can be any aspherical surface out of an aspherical surfacegenerated by grinding, a glass-molded aspherical surface generated byforming glass in an aspherical shape using a die, and a compositeaspherical surface generated by forming resin on the surface of theglass to be an aspherical shape. The lens surface may be a diffractionsurface, and the lens may be a refractive index-distributed lens (GRINlens) or a plastic lens.

It is preferable that the aperture stop S is disposed near the thirdlens group G3, but the role of the aperture stop may be substituted bythe frame of the lens, without disposing a separate member as theaperture stop.

Each lens surface may be coated with an anti-reflection film, which hashigh transmittance in a wide wavelength region, in order to decreaseflares and ghosts, and implement high optical performance with highcontrast.

The zoom ratio of the variable power optical system ZL of thisembodiment is about 2.5 to 4.

An outline of a manufacturing method for the variable power opticalsystem ZL according to this embodiment will now be described withreference to FIG. 31. First each lens is disposed to prepare the firstto fourth lens groups G1 to G4 (step S110). Each lens group is disposedso that the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lensgroup G2, the distance between the second lens group G2 and the thirdlens group G3, and the distance between the third lens group G3 and thefourth lens group G4 change respectively upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state (step S120). The thirdlens group G3 includes: the intermediate group G3 b constituted by, inorder from the object, the positive lens, the negative lens, thenegative lens and the positive lens; and the image side group G3 chaving negative refractive power and disposed to the image side of theintermediate group G3 b, and the third lens group G3 is disposed so thatthe position of the intermediate group G3 b with respect to the imageplane is fixed, and the image side group G3 c moves along the opticalaxis upon focusing (step S130).

In the manufacturing method for the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment, it is preferable that each lens group isdisposed so that the above mentioned conditional expression (1) issatisfied.

As shown in FIG. 1, according to a concrete example of this embodiment,the first lens group G1 is prepared by disposing a cemented lens, wherea negative meniscus lens L11 having a convex surface facing the objectand a positive meniscus lens L12 having a convex surface facing theobject are cemented in order from the object. The second lens group G2is prepared by disposing: a negative lens L21, of which aspherical shapeis formed by creating a resin layer on an object side lens surface of anegative meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object; acemented lens where a biconcave lens L22 and a biconvex lens L23 arecemented; and a cemented lens where a positive meniscus lens L24 havinga concave surface facing the object, and a negative lens L25 which has aconcave surface facing the object and of which image side lens surfaceis aspherical, are cemented. The third lens group G3 is prepared bydisposing: a positive lens L31 of which object side and image side lenssurfaces are aspherical; a cemented lens where a biconvex lens L32 and abiconcave lens L33 are cemented; a cemented lens where a biconcave lensL34 and a biconvex lens L35 are cemented; a positive lens L36 of whichobject side and image side lens surfaces are aspherical; and a negativemeniscus lens L37 having a convex surface facing the object. The fourthlens group G4 is prepared by disposing a positive lens L41 of whichobject side lens surface is aspherical. These lens groups are disposedaccording to the above mentioned procedure, whereby the variable poweroptical system ZL is manufactured.

Embodiment 2

Embodiment 2 will now be described with reference to the drawings. Asshown in FIG. 1, a variable power optical system ZL according toEmbodiment 2 includes, in order from an object: a first lens group G1having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negativerefractive power; a third lens group G3 having positive refractivepower; and a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractive power. Inthis variable power optical system ZL, the distance between the firstlens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the distance between thesecond lens group G2 and the third lens group G3, and the distancebetween the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 changerespectively upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. In this variable power optical system ZL, the third lensgroup G3 includes: an intermediate group G3 b constituted by, in orderfrom the object, a first positive lens, a first negative lens, a secondnegative lens and a second positive lens; and an image side group G3 chaving negative refractive power and disposed to an image side of theintermediate group G3 b, and focusing is performed from infinity to anobject at close distance by moving the image side group G3 c along theoptical axis in a state of fixing the position of the intermediate groupG3 b with respect to the image plane. By designing the variable poweroptical system ZL of this embodiment to have this configuration,excellent optical performance can be implemented with bright lenseshaving small (bright) F numbers. In other words, the intermediate groupG3 b of the third lens group G3 is constituted by four lenses having asymmetric structure (positive, negative, negative, positive), wherebyspherical aberration, curvature of field, and coma aberration can becorrected well while keeping the F numbers small for high brightness. Ifan aperture stop S is disposed between the second lens group G2 and thethird lens group G3 (or to the object side of the third lens group G3),and focusing is performed by the image side group G3 c disposed to theimage side of the intermediate group G3 b, the distance between theaperture stop S and the focusing lens group can be increased, andfluctuation of the image plane upon focusing can be controlled. “Lenscomponent” refers to a single lens or to a cemented lens where aplurality of lenses are cemented.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that an air lens created by the first negative lens andthe second negative lens included in the intermediate group G3 b of thethird lens group G3 satisfies the following conditional expression (7).−0.8<(R2a+R1b)/(R2a−R1b)<0.5  (7)where R2a denotes a radius of curvature of an image side lens surface ofthe first negative lens, and R1b denotes a radius of curvature of anobject side lens surface of the second negative lens.

The conditional expression (7) specifies the shape of the air lenscreated by the first negative lens and the second negative lens includedin the intermediate group G3 b of the third lens group G3. If the upperlimit value of the conditional expression (7) is exceeded, the positiverefractive power of the image side of the third lens group G3 (imageside of the air lens) is required to be increased, which makes itdifficult to correct abaxial aberrations, such as coma aberration, andis not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the upper limit value of theconditional expression (7) is 0.4. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention with even higher certainty, it is preferable that the upperlimit value of the conditional expression (7) is 0.3. To demonstrate theeffect of the invention to the maximum, it is preferable that the upperlimit value of the conditional expression (7) is 0.2. On the other hand,if the lower limit value of the conditional expression (7) is notreached, the object side of the third lens group G3 (object side of theair lens) requires strong positive refractive power, which makes itdifficult to correct spherical aberration, and is not desirable. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with certainty, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (7) is −0.7. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with even higher certainty, itis preferable that the lower limit value of the conditional expression(7) is −0.6. To demonstrate the effect of the invention to the maximum,it is preferable that the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (7) is −0.5.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system ZL according tothis embodiment satisfies the following conditional expression (1).0.4<(−f2)/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<1.1  (1)where f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens group G2, fw denotesa focal length of the variable power optical system ZL in the wide-angleend state, and ft denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem ZL in the telephoto end state.

The conditional expression (1) specifies a focal length of the secondlens group G2. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression(1) is exceeded, the refractive power of the second lens group G2decreases, hence the moving distance upon zooming increases and thetotal length of the optical system increases, which is not desirable. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with certainty, it is preferablethat the upper limit value of the conditional expression (1) is 1.0. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention to the maximum, it is preferablethat the upper limit value of the conditional expression (1) is 0.9. Onthe other hand, if the lower limit value of the conditional expression(1) is not reached, the refractive power of the second lens group G2increases, and curvature of field and astigmatism cannot be correctedwell, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the inventionwith certainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value of theconditional expression (1) is 0.5. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (1) is 0.6.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the third lens group G3 includes an object side groupG3 a having positive refractive power and disposed to the object side ofthe intermediate group G3 b. By this configuration, even better opticalperformance can be implemented with bright lenses having small Fnumbers. Further high-order spherical aberration, which tends to begenerated in bright lenses, can be corrected well.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the image side group G3 c, which is included in thethird lens group G3 and is used for focusing, is constituted by onenegative lens. By this configuration, the focusing lens can be lighterand focusing speed can be easily increased. Further, it is preferablethat the image side group G3 c is constituted by one negative meniscuslens having a concave surface facing the image plane. By thisconfiguration, fluctuation of spherical aberration generated uponfocusing can be controlled, and high speed focusing can be implemented.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the image side group G3 c included in the third lensgroup G3 has at least one negative lens, and this negative lenssatisfies the following conditional expression (2).ndF+0.0052×νdF−1.965<0  (2)where ndF denotes a refractive index of a medium of the negative lensincluded in the image side group G3 c at d-line.

The conditional expression (2) specifies the refractive index of themedium of the negative lens included in the image side group G3 c atd-line. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression (2) isexceeded, glass material having relatively high refractive power andhigh color dispersibility must be used for this negative lens, andlongitudinal chromatic aberration cannot be corrected well in a rangefrom infinity to an object at close distance upon focusing, which is notdesirable.

It is preferable that the negative lens included in the image side groupG3 c of the third lens group G3 satisfies the following conditionalexpression (3).νdF>60  (3)where νdF denotes an Abbe number of the medium of the negative lensincluded in the image side group G3 c.

The conditional expression (3) specifies an Abbe number of the medium ofthe negative lens included in the image side group G3 c. If the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (3) is not reached,dispersibility of the focusing lens increases, and longitudinalchromatic aberration, which tends to stand out in a bright lens, cannotbe corrected sufficiently in the range from infinity to an object atclose distance upon focusing, which is not desirable. To demonstrate theeffect of the invention with certainty, it is preferable that the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (3) is 62.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, ifthe third lens group G3 includes an object side group G3 a havingpositive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group G3 b, it is preferable that this object side group G3a includes one positive lens and satisfies the following conditionalexpression (4).νdO>60  (4)where νdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group G3 a.

The conditional expression (4) specifies the Abbe number of the mediumof the positive lens included in the object side group G3 a of the thirdlens group G3. If the lower limit value of the conditional expression(4) is not reached, longitudinal chromatic aberration, which tends to begenerated in bright lenses, increases, and correction thereof becomesdifficult, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention with certainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (4) is 62. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (4) is 65.

It is preferable that that the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment satisfies the following conditionalexpression (5).4.0<f4/fw<11.0  (5)where f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group G4, and fwdenotes a focal length of the variable power optical system ZL in thewide-angle end state.

The conditional expression (5) specifies the focal length of the fourthlens group G4. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression(5) is exceeded, the refractive power of the fourth lens group G4decreases, and correction of curvature of field upon zooming becomesdifficult, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention with certainty, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (5) is 10.0. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (5) is 9.0. On the other hand, if the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (5) is not reached, therefractive power of the fourth lens group G4 increases, and correctionof distortion becomes difficult, and back focus cannot be secured, whichis not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value of theconditional expression (5) is 5.0. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (5) is 6.0.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the first lens group G1 moves toward the image planefirst, then moves toward the object upon zooming from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state. By this configuration, the diameter ofthe first lens group G1 is kept small while preventing abaxial lightinterrupt when the distance between the first lens group G1 and thesecond lens group G2 is increased, and a sudden change of distortion canbe controlled.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the third lens group G3 is disposed to the image sideof the intermediate group G3 b, and includes an image side group havingpositive refractive power, and camera shake (image blur) is corrected byusing this image side group as a vibration-isolating lens group(hereafter called “vibration-isolating lens group G32”) which moves soas to have a component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis ina state of fixing the position of the intermediate group G3 b withrespect to the image plane. By disposing the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32 having positive refractive power to the image side of theintermediate group G3 b in this way, a vibration-isolating function canbe provided without increasing the number of lenses of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, even if the bright lenses havingsmall F numbers are used.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the third lens group G3 includes, in order from theobject: a first sub-group G31; and a second sub-group G32 havingpositive refractive power. And the camera shake (image blur) iscorrected using the second sub-group G32 as a vibration-isolating lensgroup which moves so as to have a component in a direction orthogonal tothe optical axis, in a state of fixing the position of the firstsub-group G31 with respect to the image plane. By disposing the secondsub-group (vibration-isolating lens group) G32 having positiverefractive power to the image side of the first sub-group G31 in thisway, a vibration-isolating function can be provided without increasingthe number of lenses of the second sub-group (vibration-isolating lensgroup) G32, even if the bright lenses having small F numbers are used.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system ZL according tothis embodiment satisfies the following conditional expression (6).1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<5.0  (6)where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group G3, fv denotes afocal length of the second sub-group G32, and FNOw denotes an F numberin the wide-angle end state.

The conditional expression (6) specifies the focal length of the secondsub-group G32 used as the vibration-isolating lens group, and the focallength of the third lens group G3. If the upper limit value of theconditional expression (6) is exceeded, the refractive power of thesecond sub-group G32 decreases. Further, the moving distance of thesecond sub-group G32, upon vibration isolation (image blur correction)increases, and the diameter of the second sub-group G32 increases, whichincreases the weight of the second sub-group G32, and makes it difficultto correct the eccentric coma aberration well upon vibration isolation,which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the upper limit value of theconditional expression (6) is 4.5. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (6) is 4.0. On the other hand, if the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (6) is not reached, therefractive power of the second sub-group G32 increases, and eccentricastigmatism and eccentric coma aberration cannot be corrected well uponvibration isolation, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effectof the invention with certainty, it is preferable that the lower limitvalue of the conditional expression (6) is 1.6. To demonstrate theeffect of the invention with even higher certainty, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (6) is 1.8. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention to the maximum, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (6) is 2.2.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, atleast one positive lens component may or may not be disposed between theintermediate group G3 b and the image side group G3 c of the third lensgroup G3. In the same manner, the object side group G3 a disposed to theobject side of the intermediate group G3 b of the third lens group G3may be omitted. In the intermediate group G3 b, the positive lens andthe negative lens may be cemented or each lens may be disposed as asingle lens respectively.

By the above configuration, a variable power optical system ZL havinghigh brightness and excellent optical performance can be provided.

A camera, which is an optical apparatus including the variable poweroptical system ZL according to this embodiment, will be described withreference to FIG. 30. This camera 1 is an interchangeable lens typemirrorless camera that includes the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment as an image capturing lens 2. In thiscamera 1, the light from an object (not illustrated) is collected by theimage capturing lens 2, and forms an object image on an image plane ofthe imaging unit 3 via an OLPF (Optical Low-Pass Filter), which is notillustrated. Then the object image is photo-electric converted by aphoto-electric conversion element disposed in the imaging unit 3,whereby the image of the object is generated. This image is displayed onan EVF (Electronic View Finder) 4 disposed in the camera 1. Thereby theuser can view the object via the EVF 4.

If a release button (not illustrated) is pressed by the user, thephoto-electric-converted image is stored in a memory (not illustrated)by the imaging unit 3. Thus the user can capture the image of the objectusing this camera 1. In this embodiment, an example of the mirrorlesscamera was described, but an effect similar to the case of this camera 1can be demonstrated even when the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment may be included in a single lens reflextype camera, which has a quick return mirror in the camera main unit andviews the object using a finder optical system.

The following content can be adopted within a range where the opticalperformance is not diminished.

In this example, the variable power optical system ZL constituted byfour lens groups was shown, but the present invention can also beapplied to a configuration using a different number of lens groups, suchas five lens groups or six lens groups. A lens or a lens group may beadded to the configuration on the side closest to the object, or a lensor a lens group may be added to the configuration on the side closest tothe image. “Lens group” refers to a portion having at least one lensisolated by an air space which changes upon zooming. In the variablepower optical system ZL of this embodiment, the first lens group G1 tothe fourth lens group G4 move along the optical axis respectively, suchthat each air space between the lens groups changes upon zooming.

A single or plurality of lens group(s) or a partial lens group may bedesigned to be a focusing lens group, which performs focusing from anobject at infinity to an object at a close distance by moving in theoptical axis direction. This focusing lens group can be applied to autofocus, and is also suitable for driving a motor for auto focusing(driving using an ultrasonic motor or the like). It is particularlypreferable that a part of the third lens group G3 (image side group G3c, as mentioned above) is designed to be the focusing lens group, andthe positions of other lenses with respect to the image plane arepreferably fixed upon focusing.

A lens group or a partial lens group may be designed to be avibration-isolating lens group, which corrects image blurs generated bycamera shake, by moving the lens group or the partial lens so as to havea component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis or rotating(oscillating) the lens group or the partial lens group in an in-planedirection that includes the optical axis. It is particularly preferablethat at least a part of the third lens group G3 (e.g. lens disposed tothe image side of the four lenses (positive, negative, negative,positive) of the intermediate group G3 b) is designed to be thevibration-isolating lens group.

The lens surface may be formed to be a spherical surface or a plane, oran aspherical surface. If the lens surface is a spherical surface or aplane, lens processing, assembly and adjustment are easy, anddeterioration of optical performance, due to an error generated inprocessing, assembly and adjustment, can be prevented. Even if the imageplane is shifted, the drawing performance is not affected very much,which is desirable. If the lens surface is aspherical, the asphericalsurface can be any aspherical surface out of an aspherical surfacegenerated by grinding, a glass-molded aspherical surface generated byforming glass in an aspherical shape using a die, and a compositeaspherical surface generated by forming resin on the surface of theglass to be an aspherical shape. The lens surface may be a diffractionsurface, and the lens may be a refractive index-distributed lens (GRINlens) or a plastic lens.

It is preferable that the aperture stop S is disposed near the thirdlens group G3, but the role of the aperture stop may be substituted bythe frame of the lens, without disposing a separate member as theaperture stop.

Each lens surface may be coated with an anti-reflection film, which hashigh transmittance in a wide wavelength region, in order to decreaseflares and ghosts, and implement high optical performance with highcontrast.

The zoom ratio of the variable power optical system ZL of thisembodiment is about 2.5 to 4.

An outline of a manufacturing method for the variable power opticalsystem ZL according to this embodiment will now be described withreference to FIG. 32. First each lens is disposed to prepare the firstto fourth lens groups G1 to G4 (step S210). Each lens group is disposedso that the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lensgroup G2, the distance between the second lens group G2 and the thirdlens group G3, and the distance between the third lens group G3 and thefourth lens group G4 change respectively upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state (step S220). The thirdlens group G3 includes: the intermediate group G3 b constituted by, inorder from the object, the first positive lens, the first negative lens,the second negative lens and the second positive lens; and an image sidegroup G3 c having negative refractive power and disposed to the imageside of the intermediate group G3 b, and the third lens group G3 isdisposed so that the position of the intermediate group G3 b withrespect to the image plane is fixed, and the image side group G3 c movesalong the optical axis upon focusing (step S230).

Further, each lens group is disposed so that at least the abovementioned conditional expression (7) is satisfied (step S240). As shownin FIG. 1, according to a concrete example of this embodiment: the firstlens group G1 is prepared by disposing a cemented lens, where a negativemeniscus lens L11 having a convex surface facing the object and apositive meniscus lens L12 having a convex surface facing the object arecemented in order from the object. The second lens group G2 is preparedby disposing: a negative lens L21, of which aspherical shape is formedby creating a resin layer on the object side lens surface of a negativemeniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object; a cemented lenswhere a biconcave lens L22 and a biconvex lens L23 are cemented; and acemented lens where a positive meniscus lens L24 having a concavesurface facing the object, and a negative lens L25 which has a concavesurface facing the object and of which image side lens surface isaspherical, are cemented. The third lens group G3 is prepared bydisposing: a positive lens L31 of which object side and image side lenssurfaces are aspherical; a cemented lens where a biconvex lens L32 and abiconcave lens L33 are cemented; a cemented lens where a biconcave lensL34 and a biconvex lens L35 are cemented; a positive lens L36 of whichobject side and image side lens surfaces are aspherical, and a negativemeniscus lens L37 having a convex surface facing the object. The fourthlens group G4 prepared by disposing a positive lens L41 of which objectside lens surface is aspherical. These lens groups are disposedaccording to the above mentioned procedure, whereby the variable poweroptical system ZL is manufactured.

Embodiment 3

Embodiment 3 will now be described with reference to the drawings. Asshown in FIG. 1, a variable power optical system ZL according to thisembodiment includes, in order from an object: a first lens group G1having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negativerefractive power; and a rear group GR having positive refractive powerand disposed to the image side of the second lens group G2. The variablepower optical system ZL is configured such that the distance between thefirst lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, and the distancebetween the second lens group G2 and the rear group GR changerespectively upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. In the variable power optical system ZL, the rear group GRincludes: an intermediate group G3 b constituted by, in order from theobject, a positive lens, a negative lens, a negative lens and a positivelens; and an image side group having positive refractive power anddisposed to the image side of the intermediate group G3 b. Camera shake(image blur) is corrected by using the image side group as avibration-isolating lens group (hereafter called “vibration-isolatinglens group G32”) which moves so as to have a component in a directionorthogonal to the optical axis in a state of fixing the position of theintermediate group G3 b with respect to the image plane. By configuringthe variable power optical system ZL of this embodiment in this way,excellent optical performance can be implemented with bright lenseshaving small F numbers. In other words, the intermediate group G3 b ofthe rear group GR is constituted by four lenses having a symmetricstructure (positive, negative, negative, positive), whereby sphericalaberration, curvature of field and coma aberration can be corrected wellwhile keeping the F numbers small for high brightness. Further, bydisposing the vibration-isolating lens group G32 having positiverefractive power, to the image side of the intermediate group G3 b, avibration-isolating function can be provided without increasing thenumber of lenses of the vibration-isolating lens group G32, even ifbrightness lenses having small F numbers are used. “Lens component”refers to a single lens or to a cemented lens where a plurality oflenses are cemented.

The variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment may beconfigured such that the rear group GR includes at least a third lensgroup G3 having positive refractive power and disposed closest to theobject, and each distance between lenses constituting the third lensgroup G3 is constant upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to thetelephoto end state. The third lens group G3 includes the abovementioned intermediate group G3 b. It is preferable that the variablepower optical system ZL having this configuration satisfies thefollowing conditional expression (8).1.0<f3/ΔT3<2.2  (8)where ΔT3 denotes a moving distance of the third lens group G3 uponzooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, and f3denotes a focal length of the third lens group G3.

The conditional expression (8) specifies the focal length of the thirdlens group G3 and the moving distance of the third lens group G3 uponzooming. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression (8) isexceeded, the power of the third lens group G3 becomes too weak withrespect to the moving distance, and the moving of the third lens groupG3 cannot contribute to zooming. As a result, the power of the firstlens group G1 and the second lens group G2 increase, and the sizes ofthe first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 are increased, orcurvature of field cannot be corrected well, which is not desirable. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with certainty, it is preferablethat the upper limit value of the conditional expression (8) is 2.0. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with even higher certainty, itis preferable that the upper limit value of the conditional expression(8) is 1.8. To demonstrate the effect of the invention to the maximum,it is preferable that the upper limit value of the conditionalexpression (8) is 1.75. On the other hand, if the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (8) is not reached, the power of the thirdlens group G3 becomes too strong with respect to the moving distance,and the spherical aberration cannot be corrected well, which is notdesirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention with certainty, itis preferable that the lower limit value of the conditional expression(8) is 1.2. To demonstrate the effect of the invention with even highercertainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value of theconditional expression (8) is 1.3. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (8) is 1.4.

In the variable power optical system ZL of this embodiment, it ispreferable that the rear group GR includes an object side group G3 ahaving positive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group G3 b. By this configuration, good optical performancecan be maintained using bright lenses having small F numbers. Further,high-order spherical aberration, which tends to be generated in brightlenses, can be corrected well.

In the variable power optical system ZL, it is preferable that thevibration-isolating lens group G32 is constituted by one positive lens.By this configuration, the lens used for vibration isolation can belighter, and the vibration-isolating mechanism can be lighter, and thevibration-isolating performance can easily be improved. Further, it ispreferable that the vibration-isolating lens group G32 is constituted byone biconvex lens. By this configuration, fluctuation of comaaberration, which is generated upon vibration isolation, can becontrolled.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the vibration-isolating lens group G32 includes atleast one positive lens, and this positive lens satisfies the followingconditional expression (9).ndVR+0.0052×νdVR−1.965<0  (9)where ndVR denotes a refractive index of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the vibration-isolating lens group G32, and νdVR denotes anAbbe number of the medium of the positive lens included in thevibration-isolating lens group G32.

The conditional expression (9) specifies the refractive index of themedium of the positive lens included in the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32 at d-line. If the upper limit value of the conditionalexpression (9) is exceeded, glass material having relatively highrefractive power and high color dispersibility must be used for thispositive lens, and the lateral chromatic aberration cannot be correctedwell in a range of camera shake correction, which is not desirable.

It is also preferable that the positive lens included in thevibration-isolating lens group G32 satisfies the following conditionalexpression (10).νdVR>60  (10)where νdVR denotes an Abbe number of the medium of the positive lensincluded in the vibration-isolating lens group G32.

The conditional expression (10) specifies an Abbe number of the mediumof the positive lens included in the vibration-isolating lens group G32.If the lower limit value of the conditional expression (10) is notreached, dispersibility of the vibration-isolating lens group G32increases, and lateral chromatic aberration, which tends to stand outupon camera shake correction, cannot be sufficiently corrected in therange of camera shake correction, which is not desirable. To demonstratethe effect of the invention with certainty, it is preferable that thelower limit value of the conditional expression (10) is 62.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, ifthe rear group GR includes an object side group G3 a having positiverefractive power and disposed to the object side of the intermediategroup G3 b, it is preferable that this object side group G3 a includesone positive lens and satisfies the following conditional expression(4).νdO>60  (4)where νdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group G3 a.

The conditional expression (4) specifies the Abbe number of the mediumof the positive lens included in the object side group G3 a of the reargroup GR. If the lower limit value of the conditional expression (4) isnot reached, longitudinal chromatic aberration, which tends to begenerated in bright lenses, increases, and correction thereof becomesdifficult, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention with certainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (4) is 62. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (4) is 65.

The variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment isconfigured such that the rear group GR includes a plurality of lensgroups (e.g. third lens group G3 and fourth lens group G4 in FIG. 1),and each distance of the plurality of lense groups included in the reargroup GR changes upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to thetelephoto end state. When a lens group closest to the image (e.g. fourthlens group G4 in FIG. 1), out of the plurality of lens groups, is thefinal lens group, it is preferable that the variable power opticalsystem ZL according to this embodiment satisfies the followingconditional expression (11).4.0<fr/fw<11.0  (11)where fr denotes a focal length of the final lens group, and fw denotesa focal length of the variable power optical system ZL in the wide-angleend state.

The conditional expression (11) specifies the focal length of the finallens group. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression (11)is exceeded, the refractive power of the final lens group decreases, andcorrection of curvature of field upon zooming becomes difficult, whichis not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the upper limit value of theconditional expression (11) is 10.0. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (11) is 9.0. On the other hand, if the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (11) is not reached, therefractive power of the final lens group increases, and correction ofdistortion becomes difficult and back focus cannot be secured, which isnot desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value of theconditional expression (11) is 5.0. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (11) is 6.0.

The variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment may beconfigured such that the rear group GR includes, in order from theobject, a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power and afourth lens group G4, and the distance between the third lens group G3and the fourth lens group G4 changes upon zooming from the wide-angleend state to the telephoto end state. The third lens group G3 includesat least the above mentioned intermediate lens group G3 b. It ispreferable that the variable power optical system ZL having thisconfiguration satisfies the following conditional expression (12).0.9<f3/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<2.0  (12)where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group G3, fw denotes afocal length of the variable power optical system ZL in the wide-angleend state, and ft denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem ZL in the telephoto end state.

The conditional expression (12) specifies the focal length of the thirdlens group G3. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression(12) is exceeded, the refractive power of the third lens group G3decreases and the total length of the optical system increases, which isnot desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the upper limit value of theconditional expression (12) is 1.8. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (12) is 1.6. On the other hand, if the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (12) is not reached, therefractive power of the third lens group G3 increases and correction ofspherical aberration becomes difficult, which is not desirable. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with certainty, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (12) is 1.0. Todemonstrate the effect of the conditional expression (12) to themaximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (12) is 1.1.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system ZL according tothis embodiment satisfies the following conditional expression (7).1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<5.0  (7)where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group G3, fv denotes afocal length of the vibration-isolating lens group G32, and FNOw denotesan F number in the wide-angle end state.

The conditional expression (7) specifies the focal length of thevibration-isolating lens group G32 and the focal length of the thirdlens group G3. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression(7) is exceeded, the refractive power of the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32 decreases. Further, the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32 upon vibration isolation (upon imageblur correction) increases, and the diameter of the vibration-isolatinglens group G32 increases, which makes the vibration-isolating lens groupG32 heavier, and makes it difficult to correct eccentric coma aberrationwell upon vibration isolation, which is not desirable. To demonstratethe effect of the invention with certainty, it is preferable that theupper limit value of the conditional expression (7) is 4.5. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention to the maximum, it is preferablethat the upper limit value of the conditional expression (7) is 4.0. Onthe other hand, if the lower limit value of the conditional expression(7) is not reached, the refractive power of the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32 increases, and eccentric astigmatism and eccentric comaaberration cannot be corrected well upon vibration isolation, which isnot desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value of theconditional expression (7) is 1.6. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention with even higher certainty, it is preferable that the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (7) is 1.8. To demonstrate theeffect of the invention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (7) is 2.2.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the first lens group G1 moves toward the image planefirst, then moves toward the object upon zooming from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state. By this configuration, the diameter ofthe first lens group G1 is kept small while preventing abaxial lightinterrupt when the distance between the first lens group G1 and thesecond lens group G2 is increased, and a sudden change of distortion canbe controlled.

The variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment may beconfigured such that the rear group GR is constituted by, in order fromthe object: a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power; anda fourth lens group G4 having positive refractive power, and thedistance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4changes upon zooming, or may be configured such that the rear group GRis constituted by, in order from the object: a third lens group G3having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group G4 having negativerefractive power; and a fifth lens group G5 having positive refractivepower, and the distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourthlens group G4 and the distance between the fourth lens group G4 and thefifth lens group G5 change respectively upon zooming. In the variablepower optical system ZL according to this embodiment, it is preferablethat the third lens group G3 includes, in order from the object: a frontside group G3 a; an intermediate group G3 b; and a vibration-isolatinglens group G32, which move together upon zooming, and the intermediategroup G3 b is constituted by four lenses (positive, negative, negative,positive). The vibration-isolating lens group G32 may be designed as thefourth lens group G4, instead of being included in the third lens groupG3. The object side group G3 a disposed to the object side of theintermediate group G3 b of the rear group GR may be omitted. In the fourlenses (positive, negative, negative, positive) included in theintermediate group G3 b, the positive lens and the negative lens may becemented, or each lens thereof may be disposed as a single lens.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the third lens group G3 includes at least two lenscomponents disposed to the image side of the intermediate group G3 b. Bydisposing at least two lens components to the image side of theintermediate group G3 b, the focusing lens group and thevibration-isolating lens group G32 can be disposed in the third lensgroup G3. It is preferable that the third lens group G3 is constitutedby, in order from the object: the front side group G3 a; theintermediate lens group G3 b; the vibration-isolating lens group G32;and the focusing lens group. The vibration-isolating lens group G32 ispreferably constituted by one positive lens, but may be constituted byone cemented lens, or constituted by a plurality of lens components.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment,the front side group G3 a is constituted by one aspherical lens, but maybe constituted by two spherical lenses.

By the above configuration, a variable power optical system ZL havinghigh brightness and excellent optical performance can be provided.

A camera, which is an optical apparatus including the variable poweroptical system ZL according to this embodiment, will be described withreference to FIG. 30. This camera 1 is an interchangeable lens typemirrorless camera that includes the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment as an image capturing lens 2. In thiscamera 1, the light from an object (not illustrated) is collected by theimage capturing lens 2, and forms an object image on an image plane ofthe imaging unit 3 via an OLPF (Optical Low-Pass Filter), which is notillustrated. Then the object image is photo-electric converted by aphoto-electric conversion element disposed in the imaging unit 3,whereby the image of the object is generated. This image is displayed onan EVF (Electronic View Finder) 4 disposed in the camera 1. Thereby theuser can view the object via the EVF 4.

If a release button (not illustrated) is pressed by the user, thephoto-electric-converted image is stored in a memory (not illustrated)by the imaging unit 3. Thus the user can capture the image of the objectusing this camera 1. In this embodiment, an example of the mirrorlesscamera was described, but an effect similar to the case of this camera 1can be demonstrated even when the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment may be included in a single lens reflextype camera, which has a quick return mirror in the camera main unit andviews the object using a finder optical system.

The following content can be adopted within a range where the opticalperformance is not diminished.

In this example, the variable power optical system ZL constituted byfour lens groups or five lens groups was shown, but the presentinvention can also be applied to a configuration using a differentnumber of lens groups, such as six lens groups or seven lens groups. Alens or a lens group may be added to the configuration on the sideclosest to the object, or a lens or a lens group may be added to theconfiguration on the side closest to the image. In concrete terms, alens group, of which position with respect to the image plane is fixedupon zooming, may be added to the configuration one the side closest tothe image. “Lens group” refers to a portion having at least one lensisolated by an air space which changes upon zooming. In the variablepower optical system ZL of this embodiment, the first lens group G1 tothe fourth lens group G4 (or the fifth lens group G5) move along theoptical axis respectively, such that each air space between the lensgroups changes upon zooming.

A single or plurality of lens group(s) or a partial lens group may bedesigned to be a focusing lens group, which performs focusing from anobject att infinity to an object at a close distance by moving in theoptical axis direction. This focusing lens group can be applied to autofocus, and is also suitable for driving a motor for auto focusing(driving using an ultrasonic motor or the like). It is particularlypreferable that a part of the rear group (third lens group G3) (e.g. anegative lens component disposed to the image side of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, or the fourth lens group G4 disposedto the image side of the third lens group G3) is designed to be thefocusing lens group, and the positions of other lenses with respect tothe image plane are fixed upon focusing. Considering the load applied tothe motor, it is preferable that the focusing lens group is constitutedby single lenses.

A lens group or a partial lens group may be designed to be avibration-isolating lens group, which corrects image blurs generated bycamera shake, by moving the lens group or the partial lens group so asto have a component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis orrotating (oscillating) the lens group or the partial lens group in anin-plane direction that includes the optical axis. It is particularlypreferable that at least a part of the rear group GR (e.g.vibration-isolating lens group G32 of the third lens group G3) isdesigned to be the vibration-isolating lens group, as mentioned above.

The lens surface may be formed to be a spherical surface or a plane, oran aspherical surface. If the lens surface is a spherical surface ofplane, lens processing, assembly and adjustment are easy, anddeterioration of optical performance, due to an error generated inprocessing, assembly and adjustment can be prevented. Even if the imageplane is shifted, the drawing performance is not affected very much,which is desirable. If the lens surface is aspherical, the asphericalsurface can be any aspherical surface out of an aspherical surfacegenerated by grinding, a glass-molded aspherical surface generated byforming glass in an aspherical shape using a die, and a compositeaspherical surface generated by forming resin on the surface of theglass to be an aspherical shape. The lens surface may be a diffractionsurface, and the lens may be a refractive index-distributed lens (GRINlens) or a plastic lens.

It is preferable that the aperture stop S is disposed near the thirdlens group G3, but the role of the aperture stop may be substituted bythe frame of the lens, without disposing a separate member as theaperture stop.

Each lens surface may be coated with an anti-reflection film, which hashigh transmittance in a wide wavelength region, in order to decreaseflares and ghosts, and implement high optical performance with highcontrast.

The zoom ratio of the variable power optical system ZL of thisembodiment is about 2.5 to 4. The F number of the variable power opticalsystem ZL of this embodiment is smaller than 3.5 in the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state.

An outline of a manufacturing method for the variable power opticalsystem ZL according to this embodiment will now be described withreference to FIG. 33. First each lens is disposed to prepare the firstlens group G1, the second lens group G2 and the rear group GRrespectively (step S310). Each lens group is disposed so that thedistance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2,and the distance between the second lens group G2 and the rear group GRchange respectively upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to thetelephoto end state (step S320). In the rear group GR, the intermediategroup G3 b constituted by, in order from the object, a positive lens, anegative lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens; and thevibration-isolating lens group G32 having positive refractive powerwhich is disposed to the image side of the intermediate group G3 b andmoves to have a component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis,are disposed (steps S330).

In the manufacturing method for the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment, each lens group is disposed such that therear group GR includes at least the third lens group G3 having positiverefractive power and disposed closest to the object, the distancebetween lenses constituting the third lens group G3 is constant uponzooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto end state. It ispreferable that the third lens group G3 includes the intermediate groupG3 b and satisfies the above mentioned conditional expression (8).

As shown in FIG. 1, according to a concrete example of this embodiment,the first lens group G1 is prepared by disposing a cemented lens, wherea negative meniscus lens L11 having a convex surface facing the objectand a positive meniscus lens L12 having a convex surface facing theobject are cemented in order from the object. The second lens group G2is prepared by disposing: a negative lens L21, of which aspherical shapeis formed by creating a resin layer on the object side lens surface of anegative meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object; acemented lens where a biconcave lens L22 and a biconvex lens L23 arecemented; and a cemented lens where a positive meniscus lens L24 havinga concave surface facing the object, and a negative lens L25 which has aconcave surface facing the object and of which image side lens surfaceis aspherical, are cemented. The third lens group G3 is prepared bydisposing: a positive lens L31 of which object side and image side lenssurfaces are aspherical, a cemented lens where a biconvex lens L32 and abiconcave lens L33 are cemented; a cemented lens where a biconcave lensL34 and a biconvex lens L35 are cemented; a positive lens L36 of whichobject side and image side lens surfaces are aspherical; and a negativemeniscus lens L37 having a convex surface facing the object. The fourthlens group G4 is prepared by disposing a positive lens L41 of whichobject side lens surface is aspherical. The third lens group G3 and thefourth lens group G4 constitute the rear group GR. These lens groups aredisposed according to the above mentioned procedure, whereby thevariable power optical system ZL is manufactured.

Embodiment 4

Embodiment 4 will now be described with reference to the drawings. Asshown in FIG. 1, a variable power optical system ZL according to thisembodiment includes, in order from an object: a first lens group G1having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negativerefractive power; and a rear group GR having positive refractive power.The rear group GR includes a third lens group G3 having positiverefractive power and disposed on the side closest to the object in therear group GR. The variable power optical system ZL is configured suchthat the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lensgroup G2 and the distance between the second lens group G2 and the reargroup GR change respectively, and each distance between lensesconstituting the third lens group G3 is constant upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state. In the variable poweroptical system ZL, the third lens group G3 includes, in order from theobject, a first sub-group G31 and a second sub-group G32 having positiverefractive power. Camera shake (image blur) is corrected using a secondsub-group G32 as a vibration-isolating lens group, which moves so as tohave a component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis in astate of fixing the position of the first sub-group G31 with respect tothe image plane. By configuring the variable power optical system ZL inthis way, excellent optical performance can be implemented with brightlenses having small F numbers. Further, by disposing the secondsub-group (vibration-isolating lens group) G32 having positiverefractive power to the image side of the first sub-group G31, avibration-isolating function can be provided without increasing thenumber of lenses of the second sub-group (vibration-isolating lensgroup) G32, even if the bright lenses having small F numbers are used.“Lens component” refers to a single lens or to a cemented lens where aplurality of lenses are cemented.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system ZL according tothis embodiment satisfies the following conditional expression (6).1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<5.0  (6)where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group G3, fv denotes afocal length of the second sub-group G32, and FNOw denotes an F numberin the wide-angle end state.

The conditional expression (6) specifies the focal length of the secondsub-group G32 used as the vibration-isolating lens group, and the focallength of the third lens group G3. If the upper limit value of theconditional expression (6) is exceeded, the refractive power of thesecond sub-group G32 decreases. Further, the moving distance of thesecond sub-group G32 upon vibration isolation (upon image blurcorrection) increases, and the diameter of the second sub-group G32increases, which makes the second sub-group G32 heavier, and makes itdifficult to correct eccentric coma aberration well upon vibrationisolation, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention with certainty, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (6) is 4.5. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (6) is 4.0. On the other hand, if the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (6) is not reached, therefractive power of the second sub-group G32 increases, and eccentricastigmatism and eccentric coma aberration cannot be corrected well uponvibration isolation, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effectof the invention with certainty, it is preferable that the lower limitvalue of the conditional expression (6) is 1.6. To demonstrate theeffect of the invention with even higher certainty, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (6) is 1.8. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention to the maximum, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (6) is 2.2.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment,the first sub-group G31 includes an intermediate group G3 b, constitutedby, in order from the object, a positive lens, a negative lens, anegative lens, and a positive lens. In other words, the intermediategroup G3 b of the rear group GR is constituted by four lenses having asymmetric structure (positive, negative, negative, positive), wherebyspherical aberration, curvature of field and coma aberration can becorrected well, while keeping the F numbers small for high brightness.

In the variable power optical system ZL of this embodiment, it ispreferable that the first sub-group G31 of the third lens group G3includes an object side group G3 a having positive refractive power anddisposed to the object side of the intermediate group G3 b. By thisconfiguration, good optical performance can be maintained using brightlenses having small F numbers. Further, high-order spherical aberration,which tends to be generated in bright lenses, can be corrected well.

In the variable power optical system ZL, it is preferable that thesecond sub-group G32, which is the vibration-isolating lens group G32,and which is included in the third lens group G3 and is used forvibration isolation, is constituted by one positive lens. By thisconfiguration, the lens used for vibration isolation can be lighter, andthe vibration-isolating mechanism can be lighter, and thevibration-isolating performance can easily be improved. Further, it ispreferable that the second sub-group G32 is constituted by one biconvexlens. By this configuration, fluctuation of coma aberration, which isgenerated upon vibration isolation, can be controlled.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the second sub-group G32 included in the third lensgroup G3 includes at least one positive lens, and this positive lenssatisfies the following conditional expression (9).ndVR+0.0052×νdVR−1.965<0  (9)where ndVR denotes a refractive index of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the second sub-group G32, and νdVR denotes an Abbe number ofthe medium of the positive lens included in the second sub-group G32.

The conditional expression (9) specifies the refractive index of themedium of the positive lens included in the second sub-group G32 atd-line. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression (9) isexceeded, glass material having relatively high refractive power andhigh color dispersibility must be used for this positive lens, and thelateral chromatic aberration cannot be corrected well in a range ofcamera shake correction, which is not desirable.

It is also preferable that the positive lens included in the secondsub-group G32 of the third lens group G3 satisfies the followingconditional expression (10).νdVR>60  (10)where νdVR denotes an Abbe number of the medium of the positive lensincluded in the second sub-group G32.

The conditional expression (10) specifies an Abbe number of the mediumof the positive lens included in the second sub-group G32. If the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (10) is not reached,dispersibility of the second sub-group G32 used as thevibration-isolating lens group increases, and lateral chromaticaberration, which tends to stand out upon camera shake correction,cannot be sufficiently corrected in the range of camera shakecorrection, which is not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention with certainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (10) is 62.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, ifthe first sub-group G31 of the third lens group G3 includes an objectside group G3 a having positive refractive power and disposed to theobject side of the intermediate group G3 b, it is preferable that thisobject side group G3 a includes one positive lens and satisfies thefollowing conditional expression (4).νdO>60  (4)where νdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group G3 a.

The conditional expression (4) specifies the Abbe number of the mediumof the positive lens included in the object side group G3 a of the firstsub-group G31 of the third lens group G3. If the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (4) is not reached, longitudinal chromaticaberration, which tends to be generated in bright lenses, increases, andcorrection thereof becomes difficult, which is not desirable. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with certainty, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (4) is 62. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention to the maximum, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (4) is 65.

The variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment isconfigured such that the rear group GR includes a plurality of lensgroups (e.g. third lens group G3 and fourth lens group G4 in FIG. 1),and each distance of the plurality of lense groups included in the reargroup GR changes upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to thetelephoto end state. When a lens group closest to the image (e.g. fourthlens group G4 in FIG. 1), out of the plurality of lens groups, is thefinal lens group, it is preferable that the variable power opticalsystem ZL according to this embodiment satisfies the followingconditional expression (11).4.0<fr/fw<11.0  (11)where fr denotes a focal length of the final lens group, and fw denotesa focal length of the variable power optical system ZL in the wide-angleend state.

The conditional expression (11) specifies the focal length of the finallens group. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression (11)is exceeded, the refractive power of the final lens group decreases, andcorrection of curvature of field upon zooming becomes difficult, whichis not desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the upper limit value of theconditional expression (11) is 10.0. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (11) is 9.0. On the other hand, if the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (11) is not reached, therefractive power of the final lens group increases, and correction ofdistortion becomes difficult and back focus cannot be secured, which isnot desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value of theconditional expression (11) is 5.0. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (11) is 6.0.

The variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment may beconfigured such that the rear group GR includes, in order from theobject, a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power and afourth lens group G4, and the distance between the third lens group G3and the fourth lens group G4 changes upon zooming from the wide-angleend state to the telephoto end state. The third lens group G3 includesat least the intermediate lens group G3 b. It is preferable that thevariable power optical system ZL having this configuration satisfies thefollowing conditional expression (12).0.9<f3/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<2.0  (12)where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group G3, fw denotes afocal length of the variable power optical system ZL in the wide-angleend state, and ft denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem ZL in the telephoto end state.

The conditional expression (12) specifies the focal length of the thirdlens group G3. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression(12) is exceeded, the refractive power of the third lens group G3decreases and the total length of the optical system increases, which isnot desirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention withcertainty, it is preferable that the upper limit value of theconditional expression (12) is 1.8. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (12) is 1.6. On the other hand, if the lowerlimit value of the conditional expression (12) is not reached, therefractive power of the third lens group G3 increases and correction ofspherical aberration becomes difficult, which is not desirable. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with certainty, it is preferablethat the lower limit value of the conditional expression (12) is 1.0. Todemonstrate the effect of the conditional expression (12) to themaximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (12) is 1.1.

It is preferable that the variable power optical system ZL according tothis embodiment satisfies the following conditional expression (8).1.0<f3/ΔT3<2.2  (8)where ΔT3 denotes a moving distance of the third lens group G3 uponzooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, and f3denotes a focal length of the third lens group G3.

The conditional expression (8) specifies the focal length of the thirdlens group G3 and the moving distance of the third lens group G3 uponzooming. If the upper limit value of the conditional expression (8) isexceeded, the power of the third lens group G3 becomes too weak withrespect to the moving distance, and the moving of the third lens groupG3 cannot contribute to zooming. As a result, the power of the firstlens group G1 and the second lens group G2 increase, and the sizes ofthe first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 are increased, orcurvature of field cannot be corrected well, which is not desirable. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with certainty, it is preferablethat the upper limit value of the conditional expression (8) is 2.0. Todemonstrate the effect of the invention with even higher certainty, itis preferable that the upper limit value of the conditional expression(8) is 1.8. To demonstrate the effect of the invention to the maximum,it is preferable that the upper limit value of the conditionalexpression (8) is 1.75. On the other hand, if the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (8) is not reached, the power of the thirdlens group G3 becomes too strong with respect to the moving distance,and the spherical aberration cannot be corrected well, which is notdesirable. To demonstrate the effect of the invention with certainty, itis preferable that the lower limit value of the conditional expression(8) is 1.2. To demonstrate the effect of the invention with even highercertainty, it is preferable that the lower limit value of theconditional expression (8) is 1.3. To demonstrate the effect of theinvention to the maximum, it is preferable that the lower limit value ofthe conditional expression (8) is 1.4.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the first lens group G1 moves toward the image planefirst, then moves toward the object upon zooming from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state. By this configuration, the diameter ofthe first lens group G1 is kept small while preventing abaxial lightinterrupt when the distance between the first lens group G1 and thesecond lens group G2 is increased, and a sudden change of distortion canbe controlled.

The variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment may beconfigured such that the rear group GR is constituted by, in order fromthe object: a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power and afourth lens group G4 having positive refractive power; and the distancebetween the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 changesupon zooming, or may be configured such that the rear group GR isconstituted by, in order from the object: a third lens group G3 havingpositive refractive power; a fourth lens group G4 having negativerefractive power; and a fifth lens group G5 having positive refractivepower, and the distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourthlens group G4 and the distance between the fourth lens group G4 and thefifth lens group G5 change respectively upon zooming. In the variablepower optical system ZL according to this embodiment, it is preferablethat the third lens group G3 includes, in order from the object: a firstsub-group G31 constituted by an object side group G3 a and anintermediate group G3 b; and a second sub-group G32 used as thevibration-isolating lens group, which move together upon zooming, andthe intermediate group G3 b is constituted by four lenses (positive,negative, negative, positive). The second sub-group G32 used as thevibration-isolating lens group may be designed as the fourth lens groupG4, instead of being included in the third lens group G3. The objectside group G3 a disposed to the object side of the intermediate group G3b of the first sub-group G31 constituting the rear group GR may beomitted. In the four lenses (positive, negative, negative, positive)included in the intermediate group G3 b, the positive lens and thenegative lens may be cemented, or each lens thereof may be disposed as asingle lens.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment, itis preferable that the third lens group G3 includes at least two lenscomponents disposed to the image side of the intermediate group G3 b. Bydisposing at least two lens components to the image side of theintermediate group G3 b, the focusing lens group and thevibration-isolating lens group G32 can be disposed in the third lensgroup G3. It is preferable that the third lens group G3 is constitutedby, in order from the object: a first sub-group G31 constituted by anobject side group G3 a and an intermediate group G3 b; a secondsub-group G32 used as the vibration-isolating lens group; and a focusinglens group. The second sub-group G32 used as the vibration-isolatinglens group is preferably constituted by one positive lens, but may beconstituted by one cemented lens, or constituted by a plurality of lenscomponents.

In the variable power optical system ZL according to this embodiment,the object side group G3 a is constituted by one aspherical lens, butmay be constituted by two spherical lenses.

By the above configuration, a variable power optical system ZL havinghigh brightness and excellent optical performance can be provided.

A camera, which is an optical apparatus including the variable poweroptical system ZL according to this embodiment, will be described withreference to FIG. 30. This camera 1 is an interchangeable lens typemirrorless camera that includes the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment as an image capturing lens 2. In thiscamera 1, the light from an object (not illustrated) is collected by theimage capturing lens 2, and forms an object image on an image plane ofthe imaging unit 3 via an OLPF (Optical Low-Pass Filter), which is notillustrated. Then the object image is photo-electric converted by aphoto-electric conversion element disposed in the imaging unit 3,whereby the image of the object is generated. This image is displayed onan EVF (Electronic View Finder) 4 disposed in the camera 1. Thereby theuser can view the object via the EVF 4.

If a release button (not illustrated) is pressed by the user, thephoto-electric-converted image is stored in a memory (not illustrated)by the imaging unit 3. Thus the user can capture the image of the objectusing this camera 1. In this embodiment, an example of the mirrorlesscamera was described, but an effect similar to the case of this camera 1can be demonstrated even when the variable power optical system ZLaccording to this embodiment may be included in a single lens reflextype camera, which has a quick return mirror in the camera main unit andviews the object using a finder optical system.

The following content can be adopted within a range where the opticalperformance is not diminished.

In this example, the variable power optical system ZL constituted byfour or five lens groups was shown, but the present invention can alsobe applied to a configuration using a different number of lens groups,such as six lens groups or seven lens groups. A lens or a lens group maybe added to the configuration on the side closest to the object, or alens or a lens group may be added to the configuration on the sideclosest to the image. In concrete terms, a lens group, of which positionwith respect to the image plane is fixed upon zooming, may be added tothe configuration on the side closest to the image. “Lens group” refersto a portion having at least one lens isolated by an air space whichchanges upon zooming. In the variable power optical system ZL of thisembodiment, the first lens group G1 to the fourth lens group G4 movealong the optical axis respectively, such that each air space betweenthe lens groups changes upon zooming. “Lens component” refers to asingle lens or a cemented lens where a plurality of lenses are cemented.

A single or plurality of lens group(s) or a partial lens group may bedesigned to be a focusing lens group, which performs focusing from anobject at infinity to an object at a close distance by moving in theoptical axis direction. This focusing lens group can be applied to autofocus, and is also suitable for driving a motor for auto focusing(driving using an ultrasonic motor or the like). It is particularlypreferable that a part of the rear group (third lens group G3) (e.g.negative lens component disposed to the image side of the secondsub-group G32, or the fourth lens group G4 disposed at the image side ofthe third lens group G3) is designed to be the focusing lens group, andthe positions of other lenses with respect to the image plane arepreferably fixed upon focusing. Considering the load applied to themotor, it is preferable that the focusing lens group is constituted bysingle lenses.

A lens group or a partial lens group may be designed to be avibration-isolating lens group, which corrects image blurs generated bycamera shake, by moving the lens group or the partial lens group so asto have a component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis orrotating (oscillating) the lens group or the partial lens group in anin-plane direction that includes the optical axis. It is particularlypreferable that at least a part of the rear group GR (e.g. secondsub-group G32 of the third lens group G3) is designed to be thevibration-isolating lens group, as mentioned above.

The lens surface may be formed to be a spherical surface or a plane, oran aspherical surface. If the lens surface is a spherical surface orplane, lens processing, assembly and adjustment are easy, anddeterioration of optical performance, due to an error generated inprocessing, assembly and adjustment can be prevented. Even if the imageplane is shifted, the drawing performance is not affected very much,which is desirable. If the lens surface is aspherical, the asphericalsurface can be any aspherical surface out of an aspherical surfacegenerated by grinding, a glass-molded aspherical surface generated byforming glass in an aspherical shape using a die, and a compositeaspherical surface generated by forming resin on the surface of theglass to be an aspherical shape. The lens surface may be a diffractionsurface, and the lens may be a refractive index-distributed lens (GRINlens) or a plastic lens.

It is preferable that the aperture stop S is disposed near the thirdlens group G3, but the role of the aperture stop may be substituted bythe frame of the lens, without disposing a separate member as theaperture stop.

Each lens surface may be coated with an anti-reflection film, which hashigh transmittance in a wide wavelength region, in order to decreaseflares and ghosts, and implement high optical performance with highcontrast.

The zoom ratio of the variable power optical system ZL of thisembodiment is about 2.5 to 4. The F number of the variable power opticalsystem ZL of this embodiment is smaller than 3.5 in the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state.

An outline of a manufacturing method for the variable power opticalsystem ZL according to this embodiment will now be described withreference to FIG. 34. First each lens is disposed to prepare the firstlens group G1, the second lens group G2 and the rear group GRrespectively (step S410). In the rear group GR, at least the third lensgroup G3 having positive refractive power is disposed to the sideclosest to the object in the rear group GR (step S420). Each lens groupis disposed so that the distance between the first lens group G1 and thesecond lens group G2 and the distance between the second lens group G2and the rear group GR change respectively, and each distance of lensesconstituting the third lens group G3 is constant upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state (step S430). In thethird lens group G3, the first sub-group G31 of which position withrespect to the image plane is fixed upon correcting camera shake, andthe second sub-group G32 used as the vibration-isolating lens which haspositive refractive power and can move so as to have a component in adirection orthogonal to the optical axis upon correcting camera shake,are disposed (step S440). Each lens group is disposed so that the abovementioned conditional expression (6) is satisfied (step S450).

As shown in FIG. 1, according to a concrete example of this embodiment,the first lens group G1 is prepared by disposing a cemented lens, wherea negative meniscus lens L11 having a convex surface facing the objectand a positive meniscus lens L12 having a convex surface facing theobject are cemented in order from the object. The second lens group G2is prepared by disposing: a negative lens L21, of which aspherical shapeis formed by creating a resin layer on the object side lens surface of anegative meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object; acemented lens where a biconcave lens L22 and a biconvex lens L23 arecemented; and a cemented lens, where a positive meniscus lens L24 havinga concave surface facing the object, and a negative lens L25 which has aconcave surface facing the object and of which image side lens surfaceis aspherical, are cemented. The third lens group G3 is prepared bydisposing: a positive lens L31 of which object side and image side lenssurfaces are aspherical; a cemented lens where a biconvex lens L32 and abiconcave lens L33 are cemented; a cemented lens where a biconcave lensL34 and a biconvex lens L35 are cemented; a positive lens L36 of whichobject side and image side lens surfaces are aspherical; and a negativemeniscus lens L37 having a convex surface facing the object. The fourthlens group G4 is prepared by disposing a positive lens L41 of whichobject side lens surface is aspherical. The third lens group G3 and thefourth lens group G4 constitute the rear group GR. These lens groups aredisposed according to the above mentioned procedure, whereby thevariable power optical system ZL is manufactured.

EXAMPLES

Each example of the invention will now be described with reference tothe drawings. Embodiment 1 corresponds to Example 1 to 5. Embodiment 2corresponds to Examples 1 to 5. Embodiment 3 corresponds to Examples 1to 6. Embodiment 4 corresponds to Examples 1 to 6. FIG. 1, FIG. 6, FIG.11, FIG. 16, FIG. 21 and FIG. 26 are cross-sectional views depicting theconfiguration and refractive power allocation of the variable poweroptical system ZL (ZL1 to ZL6) according to each example. In the lowerpart of the cross-sectional views of the variable power optical systemsZL1 to ZL6, the moving direction of each lens group G1 to G4 (or G5)along the optical axis upon zooming from the wide-angle end state (W) tothe telephoto end state (T) is indicated by an arrow mark.

In each example, an aspherical surface is expressed by the followingexpression (a), where y denotes a height in a direction orthogonal tothe optical axis, S(y) denotes a distance (sag) along the optical axisfrom the tangential plane at the vertex of each aspherical surface tothe position on the aspherical surface at height y, r denotes a radiusof curvature (paraxial radius of curvature) of the reference sphericalsurface, K denotes a conical coefficient, and An denotes an asphericalcoefficient at degree n. In the following example “E-n” indicates“×10^(−n)”.S(y)=(y ² /r)/{1−K×y ² /r ²)^(1/2) }+A4×y ⁴ +A6×y ⁶ +A8×y ⁸ +A10×y ¹⁰+A12×y ¹²  (a)

In each example, the aspherical coefficient at degree 2 (A2) is 0. Inthe table of each example, * is attached to the right side of thesurface number if the surface is aspherical.

Example 1

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a variable power optical system ZL1according to Example 1. The variable power optical system ZL1 shown inFIG. 1 includes, in order from an object: a first lens group G1 havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negativerefractive power; and a rear group GR, and the rear group GR isconstituted by, in order from the object: a third lens group G3 havingpositive refractive power; and a fourth lens group G4 having positiverefractive power.

In the variable power optical system ZL1, the first lens group G1 isconstituted by a cemented lens where a negative meniscus lens L11 havinga convex surface facing the object and a positive meniscus lens L12having a convex surface facing the object are cemented in order from theobject. The second lens group G2 is constituted by, in order from theobject: a negative lens L21, of which aspherical shape is formed bycreating a resin layer on the object side lens surface of a negativemeniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object; a cemented lenswhere a biconcave lens L22 and a biconvex lens L23 are cemented; and acemented lens where a positive meniscus lens L24 having a concavesurface facing the object and a negative lens L25 which has a concavesurface facing the object and of which image side lens surface isaspherical, are cemented. The third lens group G3 is constituted by, inorder from the object: a positive lens L31 of which object side andimage side lens surfaces are aspherical; a cemented lens where abiconvex lens L32 and a biconcave lens L33 are cemented; a cemented lenswhere a biconcave lens L34 and a biconvex lens L35 are cemented; apositive lens L36 of which object side and image side lens surfaces areaspherical; and a negative meniscus lens L37 having a convex surfacefacing the object. The fourth lens group G4 is constituted by a positivelens L41 of which object side lens surface is aspherical. An aperturestop S is disposed between the second lens group G2 and the third lensgroup G3. A filter group FL including a low-pass filter, an infraredfilter or the like is disposed between the fourth lens group G4 and theimage plane I. The negative lens L25, the positive lens L31, thepositive lens L36 and the positive lens L41 are glass-molded asphericallenses.

In this variable power optical system ZL1, upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the first lens group G1and the second lens group G2 move toward the image plane first and thenmove toward the object, the third lens group G3 moves toward the object,and the fourth lens group G4 moves toward the object first and thenmoves toward the image plane, so that the distance between the firstlens group G1 and the second lens group G2 increases, the distancebetween the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 decreases,and the distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lensgroup G4 increases. The aperture stop S moves together with the thirdlens group G3.

In the variable power optical system ZL1, focusing from infinity to anobject at a close distance is performed by moving an image side group G3c (negative meniscus lens L37), which is disposed to the image side of avibration-isolating lens group G32 of the third lens group G3, towardthe image plane.

In the variable power optical system ZL1, the positive lens L36 of thethird lens group G3 is used as the vibration-isolating lens group G32,and image blur correction (vibration isolation) is performed by movingthe vibration-isolating lens group G32 so as to have a component in adirection orthogonal to the optical axis. To correct a rotation blur atangle θ when the focal length of the variable power optical system is fand the vibration-isolation coefficient (ratio of the image movingdistance on the image forming plane with respect to the moving distanceof the vibration-isolating lens group G32 in the image blur correction)is K, the vibration-isolating lens group G32 for blur correction ismoved in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis by (f·tan θ)/K.(This is the same for the other examples described later.) In thewide-angle end state of Example 1, the vibration-isolation coefficientis −0.62 and the focal length is 9.3 (mm), therefore the moving distanceof the vibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 1.03° rotationblur is −0.170 (mm). In the intermediate focal length state of Example1, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −0.831 and the focal length is19.1 (mm), therefore the moving distance of the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32, to correct a 0.605° rotation blur, is −0.177 (mm). In thetelephoto end state of Example 1, the vibration-isolation coefficient is−0.963 and the focal length is 29.1 (mm), therefore the moving distanceof the vibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 0.500° rotationblur, is −0.264 (mm).

Table 1 shows the data values of the variable power optical system ZL1.In [General Data] in Table 1, f indicates a focal length of the variablepower optical system, FNO indicates an F number, 2ω indicates an angleof view, Y indicates the maximum image height, TL indicates a totallength, and BF indicates a value of back focus in the wide-angle endstate, the intermediate focal length state, and the telephoto end staterespectively. The total length TL here indicates a distance (airconversion length) on the optical axis from the lens surface closest tothe object (Surface 1 in FIG. 1) to the image plane I upon focusing oninfinity. BF indicates a distance (air conversion length) on the opticalaxis from the lens surface closest to the image plane (Surface 27 inFIG. 1) to the image plane I upon focusing on infinity. The first columnm in [Lens Data] indicates the sequential number assigned to the lenssurface (surface number) counted from the object side along the lighttraveling direction, the second column r indicates a radius of curvatureof each lens surface, the third column d indicates a distance from eachoptical surface to the next optical surface on the optical axis (surfacedistance), the fourth column νd and the fifth column nd indicate an Abbenumber and a refractive index at d-line (λ=587.6 nm). The radius ofcurvature 0.000 indicates a plane, and the refractive index of air1.00000 is omitted. The surface numbers 1 to 33 in Table 1 correspond tothe numbers 1 to 33 in FIG. 1. The [Lens Group Focal Length] indicatesthe first surface and focal length of the first to fourth lens groups G1to G4 respectively.

For all the data values, “mm” is normally used as the unit of focallength f, radius of curvature r, surface distance d and other lengths,but the unit is not limited to “mm”, since an equivalent opticalperformance is acquired even if the optical system is proportionallyexpanded or proportionally reduced. The description on the symbols andthe description on the data table are the same for the other examplesherein below.

TABLE 1 Example 1 [General Data] Zoom ratio = 3.14 Wide-angleIntermediate Telephoto end state focal length state end state f = 9.3~19.1~ 29.1 FNO = 1.8~ 2.5~ 2.9 2ω = 85.1~ 44.7~ 29.8 Y == 8.0~ 8.0~ 8.0TL (air 95.9~ 101.1~ 114.1 conversion length) = BF (air 13.8~ 18.9~ 18.4conversion length) = [Lens Data] m r d νd nd Object ∞ plane  1 52.5201.60 17.98 1.94595  2 38.097 6.31 46.60 1.80400  3 299.948 D3   4*4632.762 0.20 36.64 1.56093  5 105.387 1.51 40.66 1.88300  6 11.700 6.42 7 −78.778 4.04 54.61 1.72916  8 44.775 3.44 23.78 1.84666  9 −31.1321.04 10 −18.713 2.38 30.13 1.69895 11 −13.113 0.90 40.10 1.85135 12*−35.882 D12 13 0.000 0.80 Aperture stop S 14 21.574 3.26 71.67 1.5533215* −59.840 0.30 16 35.781 4.78 23.78 1.84666 17 −14.139 0.80 28.381.72825 18 24.505 2.16 19 −28.756 1.50 22.74 1.80809 20 24.289 4.3082.57 1.49782 21 −14.921 0.50 22* 24.289 2.68 81.49 1.49710 23* −70.000D23 24 34.328 0.80 82.57 1.49782 25 16.185 D25 26* 28.150 2.21 81.491.49710 27 254.991 D27 28 0.000 0.50 63.88 1.51680 29 0.000 1.11 300.000 1.59 63.88 1.51680 31 0.000 0.30 32 0.000 0.70 63.88 1.51680 330.000 0.70 [Lens Group Focal Length] Lens group First surface Focallength First lens group 1 84.50 Second lens group 4 −13.26 Third lensgroup 14 22.97 Fourth lens group 26 63.45

In this variable power optical system ZL1, surface 4, surface 12,surface 14, surface 15, surface 22, surface 23 and surface 26 areaspherical. Table 2 shows aspherical data, that is, the values of theconical coefficient K and each aspherical coefficient A4 to A10.

TABLE 2 [Aspherical Data] K A4 A6 A8 A10 Surface 4 0  4.41073E−05−1.57931E−07 4.69697E−10 −7.44801E−13  Surface 12 0 −1.20350E−05−8.15569E−08 3.91594E−10 −3.58987E−12  Surface 14 0 −3.13883E−06−1.57686E−08 −1.08799E−09  0.00000E+00 Surface 15 0  5.63460E−05 4.70520E−09 0.00000E+00 0.00000E+00 Surface 22 0 −1.41390E−05−4.37524E−07 0.00000E+00 0.00000E+00 Surface 23 0 −5.50201E−07−4.06545E−07 −1.23018E−09  1.33941E−11 Surface 26 0  4.04787E−06−4.49391E−08 2.97650E−10 0.00000E+00

In the variable power optical system ZL1, the axial air distance D3between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the axialair distance D12 between the second lens group G2 and the third lensgroup G3 (aperture stop S), the axial air distance D25 between the thirdlens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 and the axial air distanceD27 between the fourth lens group G4 and the filter group FL change uponzooming, as mentioned above. The axial air distance D23 to the objectside and the axial air distance D25 to the image side of the image sidegroup G3 c of the third lens group G3 Change upon focusing. Table 3shows the variable distance in each focal length state of the wide-angleend state, intermediate focal length state and telephoto end state uponfocusing on infinity and upon focusing on a close point. Upon focusingon a close point, only the values of D23 and D25 are shown, and theomitted values are the same as the respective values obtained uponfocusing on infinity.

TABLE 3 [Variable Distance Data] Focusing on infinity Focusing on closepoint Wide- Inter- Telephoto Wide- Inter- Telephoto angle end mediateend angle end mediate end f 9.3 19.1 29.1 9.3 19.1 29.1 D3 1.2 13.4 23.6D12 21.4 5.4 1.5 D23 1.50 1.50 1.50 2.42 3.64 5.44 D25 5.20 8.94 16.234.28 6.80 12.30 D27 9.8 15.0 14.5

Table 4 shows each conditional expression correspondence value of thevariable power optical system ZL1. In Table 4, f2 denotes a focal lengthof the second lens group G2, fw denotes the focal length of the variablepower optical system in the wide-angle end state, ft denotes a focallength of the variable power optical system in the telephoto end state,ndF denotes a refractive index of a medium of a negative lens includedin the image side group G3 c of the third lens group G3 at d-line, νdFdenotes an Abbe number of the medium of the negative lens included inthe image side group G3 c of the third lens group G3, νdO denotes anAbbe number of a positive lens included in the object side group G3 a ofthe rear group (third lens group G3), f4 denotes a focal length of thefourth lens group G4, fv denotes a focal length of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, FNOw denotes an F number in thewide-angle end state, f3 denotes the focal length of the third lensgroup G3, R2a and R1b denote a radius of curvature of the image sidelens surface and that of the object side lens surface of the firstnegative lens and the second negative lens included in the intermediategroup G3 b of the third lens group G3 respectively, ΔT denotes a movingdistance of the rear group (third lens group G3) upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, ndVR denotes arefractive index of a medium of the positive lens included in thevibration-isolating lens group G32 at d-line, νdVR denotes an Abbenumber of the medium of the positive lens included in thevibration-isolating lens group G32, and fr denotes a focal length of thefinal lens group. This description on the reference symbols is the samefor the other examples herein below. In Example 1, the negative lensincluded in the image side group G3 c of the third lens group G3 is thenegative meniscus lens L37, the positive lens included in the objectside group G3 a of the third lens group G3 is the positive lens L31, thepositive lens included in the vibration-isolating lens group G32 is thepositive lens L36, and the final lens group is the fourth lens group G4.R2a indicates a radial distance of Surface 18, and R1b indicates aradius of curvature of Surface 19.

TABLE 4 [Conditional Expression Correspondence Value]  (1) (−f2)/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 0.807  (2) ndF − 0.0052 × νdF − 1.965 = −0.038  (3) νdF =82.6  (4) νdO = 71.7  (5) f4/fw = 6.85  (6) fv × FNOw/f3 = 2.92  (7)(R2a + R1b)/(R2a − R1b) = −0.080  (8) f3/ΔT3 = 1.46  (9) ndVR − 0.0052 ×νdVR − 1.965 = −0.044 (10) νdVR = 81.5 (11) fr/fw = 6.85 (12) f3/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 1.40

Thus the variable power optical system ZL1 satisfies all the conditionalexpressions (1) to (12).

FIG. 2A, FIG. 3A and FIG. 4A are graphs showing spherical aberration,astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration and comaaberration of the variable power optical system ZL1 upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length state,and telephoto end state, and FIG. 2B, FIG. 3B and FIG. 4B are graphsshowing coma aberration when image blur is corrected upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length stateand telephoto end state. FIG. 5 are graphs showing spherical aberration,astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration and comaaberration upon focusing on a close point in the wide-angle end state,intermediate focal length state and telephoto end state. In each graphshowing aberration, FNO indicates an F number, and Y indicates an imageheight. In the graphs showing spherical aberration upon focusing oninfinity, a value of an F number corresponding to the maximum apertureis shown; in the graphs showing spherical aberration upon focusing on aclose point, a value of numerical aperture corresponding to the maximumaperture is shown; and in the graphs showing astigmatism and distortion,a maximum value of image height is shown respectively. d indicatesd-line (λ=587.6 nm), and g indicates g-line (λ=435.8 nm) respectively.In each graph showing astigmatism, the sold line indicates the sagittalimage plane, and the broken line indicates the meridional image plane.The same reference symbols as this example are also used for the graphsshowing aberrations of the other examples herein below. As each graphshowing aberrations clarifies, various aberrations are corrected well inthe variable power optical system ZL1 from the wide-angle end state tothe telephoto end state.

Example 2

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a variable power optical system ZL2according to Example 2. The variable power optical system ZL2 shown inFIG. 6 includes, in order from an object: a first lens group G1 havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negativerefractive power; and a rear group GR, and the rear group GR isconstituted by, in order from the object: a third lens group G3 havingpositive refractive power; and a fourth lens group G4 having positiverefractive power.

In the variable power optical system ZL2, the first lens group G1 isconstituted by a cemented lens where a negative meniscus lens L11 havinga convex surface facing the object and a positive meniscus lens L12having a convex surface facing the object are cemented in order from theobject. The second lens group G2 is constituted by, in order from theobject: a negative lens L21, of which aspherical shape is formed bycreating a resin layer on the object side lens surface of a negativemeniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object; a biconcavelens L22; a biconvex lens L23; and a cemented lens where a positivemeniscus lens L24 having a concave surface facing the object and anegative lens L25 which has a concave surface facing the object and ofwhich image side lens surface is aspherical, are cemented. The thirdlens group G3 is constituted by, in order from the object: a positivelens L31 of which object side and image side lens surfaces areaspherical; a cemented lens where a biconvex lens L32 and a biconcavelens L33 are cemented; a cemented lens where a biconcave lens L34 and abiconvex lens L35 are cemented, a positive lens of which object side andimage side lens surfaces are aspherical, and a negative meniscus lensL37 having a convex surface facing the object. The fourth lens group G4is constituted by a positive lens L41 of which object side lens surfaceis aspherical. An aperture stop S is disposed between the second lensgroup G2 and the third lens group G3. A filter group FL including alow-pass filter, an infrared filter or the like is disposed between thefourth lens group G4 and the image plane I. The negative lens L25, thepositive lens L31, the positive lens L36 and the positive lens L41 areglass-molded aspherical lenses.

In this variable power optical system ZL2, upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the first lens group G1and the second lens group G2 move toward the image plane first and thenmove toward the object, the third lens group G3 moves toward the object,and the fourth lens group G4 moves toward the object first and thenmoves toward the image plane, so that the distance between the firstlens group G1 and the second lens group G2 increases, the distancebetween the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 decreases,and the distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lensgroup G4 increases. The aperture stop S moves together with the thirdlens group G3.

In the variable power optical system ZL2, focusing from infinity to anobject at a close distance is performed by moving an image side group G3c (negative meniscus lens L37), which is disposed to the image side of avibration-isolating lens group G32 of the third lens group G3, towardthe image plane.

In the variable power optical system ZL2, the positive lens L36 of thethird lens group G3 is used as the vibration-isolating lens group G32,and image blur correction (vibration isolation) is performed by movingthe vibration-isolating lens group G32 so as to have a component in adirection orthogonal to the optical axis. In the wide-angle end state ofExample 2, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −0.625 and the focallength is 9.3 (mm), therefore the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 1.03° rotation blur is−0.170 (mm). In the intermediate focal length state, thevibration-isolation coefficient is −0.814 and the focal length is 19.1(mm), therefore the moving distance of the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32, to correct a 0.615° rotation blur, is −0.205 (mm). In thetelephoto end state, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −0.939 andthe focal length is 29.1 (mm), therefore the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 0.534° rotation blur,is −0.271 (mm).

Table 5 shows the data values of the variable power optical system ZL2.The surface numbers 1 to 34 in Table 5 corresponds to the numbers 1 to34 in FIG. 6.

TABLE 5 Example 2 [General Data] Zoom ratio = 3.13 Wide-angleIntermediate Telephoto end state focal length state end state f = 9.3~19.1~ 29.1 FNO = 1.8~ 2.5~ 2.9 2ω = 85.2~ 44.9~ 30.1 Y = 8.0~ 8.0~ 8.0TL (air 95.4~ 100.7~ 112.1 conversion length) = BF (air 13.8~ 18.7~ 19.8conversion length) = [Lens Data] m r d νd nd Object ∞ plane  1 49.1011.60 17.98 1.94595  2 35.955 6.34 46.60 1.80400  3 238.109 D3   4*32230.587 0.20 36.64 1.56093  5 92.951 1.51 40.66 1.88300  6 11.709 6.33 7 −61.701 1.00 54.61 1.72916  8 40.995 0.94  9 38.612 4.05 23.781.84666 10 −35.701 1.00 11 −18.790 2.40 31.16 1.68893 12 −13.145 1.0040.10 1.85135 13* −31.982 D13 14 0.000 0.80 Aperture stop S 15* 22.7063.20 71.68 1.55332 16* −58.429 0.30 17 46.573 5.34 23.78 1.84666 18−12.743 0.90 28.38 1.72825 19 35.112 1.91 20 −28.666 1.21 22.74 1.8080921 24.685 4.43 82.57 1.49782 22 −15.272 0.50 23* 24.333 2.63 81.561.49710 24* −70.000 D24 25 43.446 0.80 63.88 1.51680 26 15.925 D26 27*24.203 2.37 81.56 1.49710 28 220.780 D28 29 0.000 0.50 63.88 1.51680 300.000 1.11 31 0.000 1.59 63.88 1.51680 32 0.000 0.30 33 0.000 0.70 63.881.51680 34 0.000 0.70 [Lens Group Focal Length] Lens group First surfaceFocal length First lens group 1 81.70 Second lens group 4 −13.37 Thirdlens group 15 23.47 Fourth lens group 27 54.46

In this variable power optical system ZL2, surface 4, Surface 13,Surface 15, Surface 16, Surface 23, Surface 24 and Surface 27 areaspherical. Table 6 shows aspherical data, that is, the values of theconical coefficient K and each aspherical coefficient A4 to A10.

TABLE 6 [Aspherical Data] K A4 A6 A8 A10 Surface 4 0  4.81180E−05−1.64047E−07 4.26213E−10 −5.47014E−13  Surface 13 0 −8.45829E−06 2.53106E−08 −1.62200E−09  1.06953E−11 Surface 15 0 −8.35604E−06 3.00666E−08 −1.56105E−09  0.00000E+00 Surface 16 0  4.98849E−05 4.71546E−08 0.00000E+00 0.00000E+00 Surface 23 0 −1.46890E−05−3.34594E−07 0.00000E+00 0.00000E+00 Surface 24 0  3.77210E−07−3.15609E−07 −1.42238E−09  1.85664E−11 Surface 27 0 −9.43792E−07−4.37993E−08 2.66683E−10 0.00000E+00

In the variable power optical system ZL2, the axial air distance D3between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the axialair distance D13 between the second lens group G2 and the third lensgroup G3 (aperture stop S), the axial air distance D26 between the thirdlens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 and the axial air distanceD28 between the fourth lens group G4 and the filter group FL change uponzooming, as mentioned above. The axial air distance D24 to the objectside and the axial air distance D26 to the image side of the image sidegroup G3 c of the third lens group G3 Change upon focusing. Table 7shows the variable distance in each focal length state of the wide-angleend state, intermediate focal length state and telephoto end state uponfocusing on infinity and upon focusing on a close point. Upon focusingon a close point, only the values of D24 and D26 are shown, and theomitted values are the same as the respective values obtained uponfocusing on infinity.

TABLE 7 [Variable Distance Data] Focusing on infinity Focusing on closepoint Wide- Inter- Telephoto Wide- Inter- Telephoto angle end mediateend angle end mediate end f 9.3 19.1 29.1 9.3 19.1 29.1 D3 1.2 13.9 23.2D13 22.0 6.1 1.5 D24 1.50 1.50 1.50 2.21 3.19 4.68 D26 5.20 8.78 14.404.48 7.10 11.22 D28 9.8 14.8 15.9

Table 8 shows the conditional expression correspondence value of thevariable power optical system ZL2. In Example 2, the negative lensincluded in the image side group G3 c of the third lens group G3 is thenegative meniscus lens L37, the positive lens included in the objectside group G3 a of the third lens group G3 is the positive lens L31, thepositive lens included in the vibration-isolating lens group G32 is thepositive lens L36, and the final lens group is the fourth lens group G4.R2a indicates the radial distance of Surface 19, and R1b indicates aradial of curvature of Surface 20.

TABLE 8 [Conditional Expression Correspondence Value]  (1) (−f2)/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 0.814  (2) ndF − 0.0052 × νdF − 1.965 = −0.116  (3) νdF =63.9  (4) νdO = 71.7  (5) f4/fw = 5.88  (6) fv × FNOw/f3 = 2.86  (7)(R2a + R1b)/(R2a − R1b) = 0.101  (8) f3/ΔT3 = 1.54  (9) ndVR − 0.0052 ×νdVR − 1.965 = −0.044 (10) νdVR = 81.5 (11) fr/fw = 5.88 (12) f3/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 1.43

Thus the variable power optical system ZL2 satisfies all the conditionalexpressions (1) to (12).

FIG. 7A, FIG. 8A and FIG. 9A are graphs showing spherical aberration,astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration and comaaberration of the variable power optical system ZL2 upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length state,and telephoto end state, and FIG. 7B, FIG. 8B and FIG. 9B are graphsshowing coma aberration when image blur is corrected upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length stateand telephoto end state. FIG. 10 are graphs showing sphericalaberration, astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration andcoma aberration upon focusing on a close point in the wide-angle endstate, intermediate focal length state and telephoto end state. As eachgraph showing aberration clarifies, various aberrations are correctedwell in the variable power optical system ZL2, from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state.

Example 3

FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a variable power optical system ZL3according to Example 3. The variable power optical system ZL3 shown inFIG. 11 includes, in order from an object: a first lens group G1 havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negativerefractive power; and a rear group GR, and the rear group GR isconstituted by, in order from the object: a third lens group G3 havingpositive refractive power; and a fourth lens group G4 having positiverefractive power.

In the variable power optical system ZL3, the first lens group G1 isconstituted by a cemented lens where a negative meniscus lens L11 havinga convex surface facing the object and a positive meniscus lens L12having a convex surface facing the object are cemented in order from theobject. The second lens group G2 is constituted by, in order from theobject: a negative lens L21 which has a convex surface facing the objectand of which object image side lens surfaces are aspherical; a negativemeniscus lens L22 having a concave surface facing the object; a cementedlens where a biconcave lens L23 and a biconvex lens L24 are cemented;and a negative lens L25 which has a concave surface facing the objectand of which object side and image side lens surface is aspherical. Thethird lens group G3 is constituted by, in order from the object: apositive lens L31 of which object side and image side lens surfaces areaspherical; a cemented lens where a biconvex lens L32 and a biconcavelens L33 are cemented; a cemented lens where a biconcave lens L34 and abiconvex lens L35 are cemented; a cemented positive lens where anegative meniscus lens L36 having a convex surface facing the object anda positive lens L37 of which image side lens surface is aspherical arecemented; and a negative lens L38 which has a convex surface facing theobject and of which image side lens surface is aspherical. The fourthlens group G4 is constituted by a positive meniscus lens L41 having aconvex surface facing the object. An aperture stop S is disposed betweenthe second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3. A filter group FLincluding a low-pass filter, an infrared filter or the like is disposedbetween the fourth lens group G4 and the image plane I. The negativelens L21, the negative lens L25, the positive lens L31, the negativelens L36 and the positive lens L37 are glass-molded aspherical lenses.

In this variable power optical system ZL3, upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the first lens group G1and the second lens group G2 move toward the image plane first and thenmove toward the object, the third lens group G3 moves toward the object,and the fourth lens group G4 moves toward the object first and thenmoves toward the image plane, so that the distance between the firstlens group G1 and the second lens group G2 increases, the distancebetween the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 decreases,and the distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lensgroup G4 increases. The aperture stop S moves together with the thirdlens group G3.

In the variable power optical system ZL3, focusing from infinity to anobject at a close distance is performed by moving an image side group G3c (negative meniscus lens L38), which is disposed to the image side of avibration-isolating lens group G32 of the third lens group G3, towardthe image plane.

In the variable power optical system ZL3, the cemented positive lensconstituted by the negative lens L36 and the positive lens L37 of thethird lens group G3 is used as the vibration-isolating lens group G32,and image blur correction (vibration isolation) is performed by movingthis vibration-isolating lens group G32 so as to have a component in adirection orthogonal to the optical axis. In the wide-angle end state ofExample 3, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −0.723, and the focallength is 9.3 (mm), therefore the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 0.911° rotation blur,is −0.147 (mm). In the intermediate focal length state, thevibration-isolation coefficient is −0.934 and the focal length is 19.1(mm), therefore the moving distance of the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32, to correct a 0.534° rotation blur, is −0.177 (mm). In thetelephoto end state, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −1.06 andthe focal length is 29.1 (mm), therefore the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 0.474° rotation blur,is −0.236 (mm).

Table 9 shows the data values of the variable power optical system ZL3.The surface numbers 1 to 35 in Table 9 correspond to the numbers 1 to 35in FIG. 11.

TABLE 9 Example 3 [General Data] Zoom ratio = 3.12 IntermediateWide-angle focal length Telephoto end state state end state f = 9.3~19.1~ 29.1 FNO = 1.8~ 2.3~ 2.6 2ω = 84.3~ 45.3~ 30.7 Y = 8.0~ 8.0~ 8.0TL (air 93.4~ 99.2~ 110.9 conversion length) = BF (air 13.7~ 21.1~ 21.5conversion length) = [Lens Data] m r d νd nd Object plane ∞  1 43.3711.60 17.98 1.94595  2 32.926 6.90 45.31 1.79500  3 140.257 D3   4*175.520 1.50 42.65 1.82080  5* 10.809 7.48  6 −15.455 0.92 29.14 2.00100 7 −20.858 0.28  8 −101.287 0.80 46.60 1.80400  9 38.949 0.00 10 36.8314.78 23.78 1.84666 11 −25.842 0.94 12 −14.557 0.92 45.46 1.80139 13*−25.880 D13 14 0.000 1.20 Aperture stop S 15* 18.690 3.57 81.56 1.49710316* −63.173 0.78 17 42.863 3.79 22.74 1.80809 18 −17.820 1.00 28.691.79504 19 28.455 2.21 20 −54.464 0.90 22.74 1.80809 21 34.705 4.3382.57 1.49782 22 −16.135 0.50 23 21.394 0.80 29.14 2.00100 24 17.0033.74 71.67 1.55332 25* −60.926 D25 26 29.947 0.80 81.49 1.49710 27*14.925 D27 28 29.674 1.90 82.57 1.49782 29 96.000 D29 30 0.000 0.5063.88 1.51680 31 0.000 1.11 32 0.000 1.59 63.88 1.51680 33 0.000 0.30 340.000 0.70 63.88 1.51680 35 0.000 0.70 [Lens Group Focal Length] Lensgroup First surface Focal length First lens group 1 82.51 Second lensgroup 4 −11.97 Third lens group 15 21.69 Fourth lens group 28 85.46

In this variable power optical system ZL3, Surface 4, Surface 5, Surface13, Surface 15, Surface 16, Surface 25 and Surface 27 are aspherical.Table 10 shows aspherical data, that is, the values of the conicalcoefficient K and each aspherical coefficient A4 to A12.

TABLE 10 [Aspherical Data] K A4 A6 A8 A10 A12 Surface 4 0 6.79E−05−4.38E−07 3.57E−09 −1.72E−11  3.66E−14 Surface 5 0 3.02E−05 −1.77E−072.51E−09 2.36E−11 0.00E+00 Surface 13 0 −1.03E−05  −1.42E−07 2.00E−09−1.18E−11  0.00E+00 Surface 15 0 1.60E−05  1.53E−08 4.77E−09 0.00E+000.00E+00 Surface 16 0 9.01E−05  4.44E−09 5.55E−09 0.00E+00 0.00E+00Surface 25 0 2.01E−05 −2.52E−07 4.90E−09 −3.50E−11  0.00E+00 Surface 270 −1.52E−05   2.25E−07 −5.15E−09  4.70E−11 0.00E+00

In the variable power optical system ZL3, the axial air distance D3between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the axialair distance D13 between the second lens group G2 and the third lensgroup G3 (aperture stop S), the axial air distance D27 between the thirdlens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4, and the axial air distanceD29 between the fourth lens group G4 and the filter group FL change uponzooming, as mentioned above. The axial air distance D25 to the objectside and the axial air distance D27 to the image side of the image sidegroup G3 c of the third lens group G3 Change upon focusing. Table 11shows the variable distance in each focal length state of the wide-angleend state, intermediate focal length state and telephoto end state uponfocusing on infinity and upon focusing on a close point. Upon focusingon a close point, only the values of D25 and D27 are shown, and omittedvalues are the same as the respective values obtained upon focusing oninfinity.

TABLE 11 [Variable Distance Data] Focusing on infinity Focusing on closepoint Wide- Inter- Telephoto Wide- Inter- Telephoto angle end mediateend angle end mediate end f 9.3 19.0 29.1 9.3 19.0 29.1 D3 1.0 13.9 23.9D13 19.2 4.9 1.2 D25 1.60 1.60 1.60 2.52 4.05 5.19 D27 5.20 5.20 10.084.38 2.75 6.49 D29 9.8 17.2 17.5

Table 12 shows each conditional expression correspondence value of thevariable power optical system ZL3. In Example 3, the negative lensincluded in the image side group G3 c of the third lens group G3 is thenegative lens L38, the positive lens included in the object side groupG3 a of the third lens group G3 is the positive lens L31, the positivelens included in the vibration-isolating lens group G32 is the positivelens L37, and the final lens group is the fourth lens group G4. R2aindicates a radial distance of the Surface 19, and R1b indicates aradius of curvature of Surface 20.

TABLE 12 [Conditional Expression Correspondence Value] (1) (−f2)/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 0.736 (2) ndF − 0.0052 × νdF − 1.965 = −0.044 (3) νdF = 81.5(4) νdO = 81.6 (5) f4/fw = 9.22 (6) fv × FNOw/f3 = 2.87 (7) (R2a +R1b)/(R2a − R1b) = −0.314 (8) f3/ΔT3 = 1.72 (9) ndVR − 0.0052 × νdVR −1.965 = −0.044 (10)  νdVR = 71.7 (11)  fr/fw = 9.22 (12)  f3/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 1.33

Thus the variable power optical system ZL3 satisfies all the conditionalexpressions (1) to (12).

FIG. 12A, FIG. 13A and FIG. 14A are graphs showing spherical aberration,astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration and comaaberration of the variable power optical system ZL3 upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length state,and telephoto end state, and FIG. 12B, FIG. 13B and FIG. 14B are graphsshowing coma aberration when image blur is corrected upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length stateand telephoto end state. FIG. 15 are graphs showing sphericalaberration, astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration andcoma aberration upon focusing on a close point in the wide-angle endstate, intermediate focal length state and telephoto end state. As eachgraph showing aberration clarifies, various aberrations are correctedwell in the variable power optical system ZL3, from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state.

Example 4

FIG. 16 shows a configuration of a variable power optical system ZL4according to Example 4. The variable power optical system ZL4 shown inFIG. 16 includes, in order from an object: a first lens group G1 havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negativerefractive power; and a rear group GR, and the rear group GR isconstituted by, in order from the object: a third lens group G3 havingpositive refractive power; and a fourth lens group G4 having positiverefractive power.

In the variable power optical system ZL4, the first lens group G1 isconstituted by a cemented lens where a negative meniscus lens L11 havinga convex surface facing the object and a positive meniscus lens L12having a convex surface facing the object are cemented in order from theobject. The second lens group G2 is constituted by, in order from theobject: a negative lens L21, which has a convex surface facing theobject and of which object side lens surface is aspherical; a cementedlens where biconcave lens L22 and a biconvex lens L23 are cemented; anda cemented lens where a positive meniscus lens L24 having a concavesurface facing the object and a negative lens L25 of which image sidelens surface is aspherical are cemented. The third lens group G3 isconstituted by, in order from the object: a positive lens L31 of whichobject side and image side lens surface are aspherical; a cemented lenswhere a biconvex lens L32 and a biconcave lens L33 are cemented; acemented lens where a biconcave lens L34 and a biconvex lens L35 arecemented; a positive lens L36 of which image side lens surface isaspherical; and a negative meniscus lens L37 having a convex surfacefacing the object. The fourth lens group G4 is constituted by a positivelens L41 which has a convex surface facing the object and of whichobject side lens surface is aspherical. An aperture stop S is disposedbetween the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3. A filtergroup FL including a low-pass filter, an infrared filter or the like isdisposed between the fourth lens group G4 and the image plane I. Thenegative lens L21, the negative lens L25, the positive lens L31, thepositive lens L36 and the positive lens L41 are glass-molded asphericallenses.

In this variable power optical system ZL4, upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the first lens group G1and the second lens group G2 move toward the image plane first and thenmove toward the object, the third lens group G3 moves toward the object,and the fourth lens group G4 moves toward the object first and thenmoves toward the image plane, so that the distance between the firstlens group G1 and the second lens group G2 increases, the distancebetween the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 decreases,and the distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lensgroup G4 increases. The aperture stop S moves together with the thirdlens group G3.

In the variable power optical system ZL4, focusing from infinity to anobject at a close distance is performed by moving an image side group G3c (negative meniscus lens L37), which is disposed to the image side of avibration-isolating lens group G32 of the third lens group G3, towardthe image plane.

In the variable power optical system ZL4, the positive lens L36 of thethird lens group G3 is used as the vibration-isolating lens group G32,and image blur correction (vibration isolation) is performed by movingthe vibration-isolating lens group G32 so as to have a component in adirection orthogonal to the optical axis. In the wide-angle end state ofExample 4, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −0.701 and the focallength is 9.26 (mm), therefore the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 0.940° rotation blur,is −0.152 (mm). In the intermediate focal length state, thevibration-isolation coefficient is −0.929 and the focal length is 19.1(mm), therefore the moving distance of the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32, to correct a 0.537° rotation blur, is −0.179 (mm). In thetelephoto end state, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −1.05 andthe focal length is 29.1 (mm), therefore the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 0.475° rotation blur,is −0.241 (mm).

Table 13 shows the data values of the variable power optical system ZL4.The surface numbers 1 to 32 in Table 13 correspond to the numbers 1 to32 in FIG. 16.

TABLE 13 Example 4 [General Data] Zoom ratio = 3.13 IntermediateWide-angle focal length Telephoto end state state end state f = 9.26~19.1~ 29.1 FNO = 1.8~ 2.3~ 2.6 2ω = 85.1~ 45.0~ 29.9 Y = 8.0~ 8.0~ 8.0TL (air 93.2~ 98.8~ 110.7 conversion length) = BF (air 13.71~ 19.12~20.67 conversion length) = [Lens Data] m r d νd nd Object plane ∞  147.558 1.60 17.98 1.94595  2 35.327 6.23 46.60 1.80400  3 222.036 D3  4* 5814.989 1.61 40.10 1.85135  5 11.700 6.30  6 −90.767 1.94 49.621.77250  7 47.951 3.78 23.78 1.84666  8 −36.068 1.81  9 −14.307 2.0622.74 1.80809 10 −12.194 0.90 45.46 1.80139 11* −25.687 D11 12 0.0000.80 Aperture stop S 13* 16.293 3.67 67.05 1.59201 14* −77.139 0.30 1570.431 3.48 25.45 1.80518 16 −16.780 0.80 33.73 1.64769 17 24.325 2.5918 −33.946 1.09 25.45 1.80518 19 18.705 4.24 82.57 1.49782 20 −16.4220.50 21 21.829 2.84 81.49 1.49710 22* −60.000 D22 23 113.472 0.80 82.571.49782 24 22.646 D24 25* 26.180 2.35 81.49 1.49710 26 607.278 D26 270.000 0.50 63.88 1.51680 28 0.000 1.11 29 0.000 1.59 63.88 1.51680 300.000 0.30 31 0.000 0.70 63.88 1.51680 32 0.000 0.70 [Lens Group FocalLength] Lens group First surface Focal length First lens group 1 79.52Second lens group 4 −12.62 Third lens group 13 22.96 Fourth lens group25 54.96

In this variable power optical system ZL4, Surface 4, Surface 11,Surface 13, Surface 14, Surface 22 and Surface 25 are aspherical. Table14 shows aspherical data, that is, the values of the conical coefficientK and each aspherical coefficient A4 to A10.

TABLE 14 [Aspherical Data] K A4 A6 A8 A10 Surface 4 0 3.94307E−05−1.29628E−07   3.43564E−10 −3.78498E−13  Surface 11 0 −1.30254E−05 −1.98133E−08  −6.57557E−10 4.01106E−12 Surface 13 0 −3.22653E−06 1.73408E−07 −7.04126E−11 0.00000E+00 Surface 14 0 7.18116E−051.79256E−07  0.00000E+00 0.00000E+00 Surface 22 0 1.05439E−052.55453E−08  8.37397E−10 −1.64088E−12  Surface 25 0 −1.35591E−05 1.71835E−07 −3.32810E−09 2.04907E−11

In the variable power optical system ZL4, the axial air distance D3between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the axialair distance D11 between the second lens group G2 and the third lensgroup G3 (aperture stop S), the axial air distance D24 between the thirdlens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4, and the axial air distanceD26 between the fourth lens group G4 and the filter group FL change uponzooming, as mentioned above. The axial air distance D22 to the objectside and the axial air distance D24 to the image side of the image sidegroup G3 c of the third lens group G3 Change upon focusing. Table 15shows the variable distance in each focal length state of the wide-angleend state, intermediate focal length state and telephoto end state uponfocusing on infinity and upon focusing on a close point. Upon focusingon a close point, only the values of D22 and D24 are shown, and omittedvalues are the same as the respective values obtained upon focusing oninfinity.

TABLE 15 [Variable Distance Data] Focusing on infinity Focusing on closepoint Wide- Inter- Telephoto Wide- Inter- Telephoto angle end mediateend angle end mediate end f 9.3 19.1 29.1 9.3 19.1 29.1 D3 1.0 13.9 23.9D11 19.2 4.9 1.2 D22 1.60 1.60 1.60 2.44 3.60 5.50 D24 5.20 9.06 13.434.36 7.06 9.53 D26 9.8 17.2 17.5

Table 16 shows each conditional expression correspondence value of thevariable power optical system ZL4. In Example 4, the negative lensincluded in the image side group G3 c of the third lens group G3 is thenegative meniscus lens L37, the positive lens included in the objectside group G3 a of the third lens group G3 is the positive lens L31, thepositive lens included in the vibration-isolating lens group G32 is thepositive lens L36, and the final lens group is the fourth lens group G4.R2a indicates a radial distance of the Surface 17, and R1b indicates aradius of curvature of Surface 18.

TABLE 16 [Conditional Expression Correspondence Value]  (1) (−f2)/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 0.769  (2) ndF − 0.0052 × νdF − 1.965 = −0.038  (3) νdF =82.6  (4) νdO = 67.1  (5) f4/fw = 5.94  (6) fv × FNOw/f3 = 2.60  (7)(R2a + R1b)/(R2a − R1b) = −0.165  (8) f3/ΔT3 = 1.51  (9) ndVR − 0.0052 ×νdVR − 1.965 = −0.044 (10) νdVR = 81.49 (11) fr/fw = 5.94 (12) f3/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 1.40

Thus the variable power optical system ZL4 satisfies all the conditionalexpressions (1) to (12).

FIG. 17A, FIG. 18A and FIG. 19A are graphs showing spherical aberration,astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration and comaaberration of the variable power optical system ZL4 upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length state,and telephoto end state, and FIG. 17B, FIG. 18B and FIG. 19B are graphsshowing coma aberration when image blur is corrected upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length stateand telephoto end state. FIG. 20 are graphs showing sphericalaberration, astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration andcoma aberration upon focusing on a close point in the wide-angle endstate, intermediate focal length state and telephoto end state. As eachgraph showing aberration clarifies, various aberrations are correctedwell in the variable power optical system ZL4, from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state.

Example 5

FIG. 21 shows a configuration of a variable power optical system ZL5according to Example 5. The variable power optical system ZL5 shown inFIG. 21 includes, in order from an object: a first lens group G1 havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negativerefractive power; and a rear group GR, and the rear group GR isconstituted by, in order from the object: a third lens group G3 havingpositive refractive power; and a fourth lens group G4 having positiverefractive power.

In the variable power optical system ZL5, the first lens group G1 isconstituted by a cemented lens where a negative meniscus lens L11 havinga convex surface facing the object and a positive meniscus lens L12having a convex surface facing the object are cemented in order from theobject. The second lens group G2 is constituted by, in order from theobject: a negative lens L21 of which aspherical shape is formed bycreating a resin layer on the object side lens surface of a negativemeniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object; a biconcavelens L22; a biconvex lens L23; and a cemented lens where a positivemeniscus lens L24 having a concave surface facing the object and anegative lens L25 which has a concave surface facing the object and ofwhich image side lens surface is aspherical are cemented. The third lensgroup G3 is constituted by, in order from the object: a positive lensL31 of which object side and image side lens surfaces are aspherical; acemented lens where a biconvex lens L32 and a biconcave lens L33 arecemented; a cemented lens where a biconcave lens L34 and a biconvex lensL35 are cemented; a positive lens L36 of which object side and imageside lens surfaces are aspherical; and negative meniscus lens L37 havinga convex surface facing the object. The fourth lens group G4 isconstituted by a positive lens L41 of which object side lens surface isaspherical. An aperture stop S is disposed between the second lens groupG2 and the third lens group G3. A filter group FL including a low-passfilter, an infrared filter or the like is disposed between the fourthlens group G4 and the image plane I. The negative lens L25, the positivelens L31, the positive lens L36 and the positive lens L41 areglass-molded aspherical lenses.

In this variable power optical system ZL5, upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the first lens group G1and the second lens group G2 move toward the image plane first and thenmove toward the object, the third lens group G3 moves toward the object,and the fourth lens group G4 moves toward the object first and thenmoves toward the image plane, so that the distance between the firstlens group G1 and the second lens group G2 increases, the distancebetween the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 decreases,and the distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lensgroup G4 increases. The aperture stop S moves together with the thirdlens group G3.

In the variable power optical system ZL5, focusing from infinity to anobject at a close distance is performed by moving an image side group G3c (negative meniscus lens L37), which is disposed to the image side of avibration-isolating lens group G32 of the third lens group G3, towardthe image plane.

In the variable power optical system ZL5, the positive lens L36 of thethird lens group G3 is used as the vibration-isolating lens group G32,and image blur correction (vibration isolation) is performed by movingthe vibration-isolating lens group G32 so as to have a component in adirection orthogonal to the optical axis. In the wide-angle end state ofExample 5, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −0.636 and the focallength is 9.3 (mm), therefore the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 1.03° rotation blur, is−0.167 (mm). In the intermediate focal length state, thevibration-isolation coefficient is −0.859 and the focal length is 19.1(mm), therefore the moving distance of the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32, to correct a 0.574° rotation blur, is −0.194 (mm). In thetelephoto end state, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −0.963 andthe focal length is 29.1 (mm), therefore the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 0.519° rotation blur,is −0.271 (mm).

Table 17 shows the data values of the variable power optical system ZL5.The surface numbers 1 to 34 in Table 17 correspond to the numbers 1 to34 in FIG. 21.

TABLE 17 Example 5 [General Data] Zoom ratio = 3.14 IntermediateWide-angle focal length Telephoto end state state end state f = 9.3~19.1~ 29.1 FNO = 1.8~ 2.6~ 2.9 2ω = 85.0~ 45.2~ 30.1 Y = 8.0~ 8.0~ 8.0TL (air 95.9~ 98.8~ 112.6 conversion length) = BF (air 13.79~ 20.56~21.34 conversion length) = [Lens Data] m r d νd nd Object plane ∞  148.703 1.60 17.98 1.94595  2 34.692 6.38 42.73 1.83481  3 197.349 D3  4* 5896.385 0.20 36.64 1.56093  5 93.609 1.51 40.66 1.88300  6 11.7006.47  7 −54.231 1.00 54.61 1.72916  8 54.855 1.56  9 49.676 3.34 23.781.84666 10 −32.621 1.12 11 −18.908 2.35 33.73 1.64769 12 −13.263 0.9044.98 1.79050 13* −37.964 D13 14 0.000 0.80 Aperture stop S 15* 20.3793.57 71.67 1.55332 16* −42.773 0.30 17 46.219 4.49 23.78 1.84666 18−14.503 0.90 27.57 1.75520 19 27.482 2.80 20 −29.885 1.34 25.45 1.8051821 23.770 4.30 82.57 1.49782 22 −15.009 0.50 23* 23.770 2.70 81.491.49710 24* −70.000 D24 25 54.480 0.80 67.90 1.59319 26 19.345 D26 27*26.011 2.37 81.49 1.49710 28 500.000 D28 29 0.000 0.50 63.88 1.51680 300.000 1.11 31 0.000 1.59 63.88 1.51680 32 0.000 0.30 33 0.000 0.70 63.881.51680 34 0.000 0.70 [Lens Group Focal Length] Lens group First surfaceFocal length First lens group 1 80.99 Second lens group 4 −12.86 Thirdlens group 15 23.62 Fourth lens group 27 55.11

In this variable power optical system ZL5, Surface 4, Surface 13,Surface 15, Surface 16, Surface 23, Surface 24 and Surface 27 areaspherical. Table 18 shows aspherical data, that is, the values of theconical coefficient K and each aspherical coefficient A4 to A10.

TABLE 18 [Aspherical Data] K A4 A6 A8 A10 Surface 4 0  4.87287E−05−1.73017E−07 4.92743E−10 −6.73284E−13  Surface 13 0 −8.09198E−06−3.28390E−08 −3.69807E−10  1.91943E−12 Surface 15 0 −1.61042E−05 3.65268E−08 −5.12033E−10  0.00000E+00 Surface 16 0  4.30711E−05 5.71263E−08 0.00000E+00 0.00000E+00 Surface 23 0 −1.46815E−05−3.11565E−07 0.00000E+00 0.00000E+00 Surface 24 0 −7.08073E−07−3.08275E−07 −7.09313E−10  1.17051E−11 Surface 27 0 −2.64761E−06−4.55080E−08 2.47961E−10 0.00000E+00

In the variable power optical system ZL5, the axial air distance D3between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the axialair distance D13 between the second lens group G2 and the third lensgroup G3 (aperture stop S), the axial air distance D26 between the thirdlens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4, and the axial air distanceD28 between the fourth lens group G4 and the filter group FL change uponzooming, as mentioned above. The axial air distance D24 to the objectside and the axial air distance D26 to the image side of the image sidegroup G3 c of the third lens group G3 Change upon focusing. Table 19shows the variable distance in each focal length state of the wide-angleend state, intermediate focal length state, and telephoto end state uponfocusing on infinity and upon focusing on a close point. Upon focusingon a close point, only the values of D24 and D26 are shown, and theomitted values are the same as the respective values obtained uponfocusing on infinity.

TABLE 19 [Variable Distance Data] Focusing on infinity Focusing on closepoint Wide- Inter- Telephoto Wide- Inter- Telephoto angle end mediateend angle end mediate end f 9.3 19.1 29.1 9.3 19.1 29.1 D3 1.2 11.3 22.9D13 22.0 5.0 1.5 D24 1.50 1.50 1.50 2.24 3.25 4.86 D26 5.20 8.12 13.074.46 6.37 9.70 D28 9.8 16.6 16.9

Table 20 shows each conditional expression correspondence value of thevariable power optical system ZL5. In Example 5, the negative lensincluded in the image side group G3 c of the third lens group G3 is anegative meniscus lens L37, the positive lens included in the objectside group G3 a of the third lens group G3 is the positive lens L31, thepositive lens included in the vibration-isolating lens group G32 is thepositive lens L36, and the final lens group is the fourth lens group G4.R2a indicates a radial distance of Surface 19, and R1b indicates aradius of curvature of Surface 20.

TABLE 20 [Conditional Expression Correspondence Value]  (1) (−f2)/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 0.783  (2) ndF − 0.0052 × νdF − 1.965 = −0.019  (3) νdF =67.9  (4) νdO = 71.7  (5) f4/fw = 5.94  (6) fv × FNOw/f3 = 2.81  (7)(R2a + R1b)/(R2a − R1b) = −0.042  (8) f3/ΔT3 = 1.53  (9) ndVR − 0.0052 ×νdVR − 1.965 = −0.044 (10) νdVR = 81.49 (11) fr/fw = 5.94 (12) f3/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 1.44

Thus the variable power optical system ZL5 satisfies all the conditionalexpressions (1) to (12).

FIG. 22A, FIG. 23A and FIG. 24A are graphs showing spherical aberration,astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration and comaaberration of the variable power optical system ZL5 upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length state,and telephoto end state, and FIG. 22B, FIG. 23B and FIG. 24B are graphsshowing coma aberration when image blur is corrected upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length stateand telephoto end state. FIG. 25 are graphs showing sphericalaberration, astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration andcoma aberration upon focusing on a close point in the wide-angle endstate, intermediate focal length state and telephoto end state. As eachgraph showing aberration clarifies, various aberrations are correctedwell in the variable power optical system ZL5, from the wide-angle endstate to the telephoto end state.

Example 6

FIG. 26 shows a configuration of a variable power optical system ZL6according to Example 6. The variable power optical system ZL6 shown inFIG. 26 includes, in order from an object: a first lens group G1 havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negativerefractive power; and a rear group GR, and the rear group GR isconstituted by, in order from the object: a third lens group G3 havingpositive refractive power; a fourth lens group G4 having negativerefractive power; and a fifth lens group G5 having positive refractivepower.

In the variable power optical system ZL6, the first lens group G1 isconstituted by a cemented lens where a negative meniscus lens L11 havinga convex surface facing the object and a positive meniscus lens L12having a convex surface facing the object are cemented in order from theobject. The second lens group G2 is constituted by, in order from theobject: a negative lens L21 of which aspherical shape is formed bycreating a resin layer on the object side lens surface of a negativemeniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object; a biconcavelens L22; a biconvex lens L23; and a negative lens L24 of which imageside lens surface is aspherical. The third lens group G3 is constitutedby, in order from the object: a positive lens L31 of which object sideand image side lens surfaces are aspherical; a cemented lens where abiconvex lens L32 and a biconcave lens L33 are cemented; a cemented lenswhere a biconcave lens L34 and a biconvex lens L35 are cemented; apositive lens L36 of which object side and image side lens surfaces areaspherical. The fourth lens group G4 is constituted by a negativemeniscus lens L41 having a convex surface facing the object. The fifthlens group G5 is constituted by a positive lens L51 of which object sidelens surface is aspherical. An aperture stop S is disposed between thesecond lens group G2 and the third lens group G3. A filter group FLincluding a low-pass filter, an infrared filter or the like is disposedbetween the fourth lens group G4 and the image plane I. The negativelens L25, the positive lens L31, the positive lens L41 and the positivelens L51 are glass-molded aspherical lenses.

In this variable power optical system ZL6, upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the first lens group G1and the second lens group G2 move toward the image plane first and thenmove toward the object, the third lens group G3 moves toward the object,the fourth lens group G4 moves toward the image plane first and thenmoves toward the object, and the fifth lens group G5 moves toward theobject first, and then moves toward the image plane, so that thedistance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2increases, the distance between the second lens group G2 and the thirdlens group G3 decreases, and the distance between the third lens groupG3 and the fourth lens group G4 increases first and then decreases. Theaperture stop S moves together with the third lens group G3.

In the variable power optical system ZL6, focusing from infinity to anobject at a close distance is performed by moving the fourth lens groupG4 toward the image plane.

In the variable power optical system ZL6, the positive lens L36 of thethird lens group G3 is used as the vibration-isolating lens group G32,and image blur correction (vibration isolation) is performed by movingthe vibration-isolating lens group G32 so as to have a component in adirection orthogonal to the optical axis. In the wide-angle end state ofExample 6, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −0.647 and the focallength is 9.3 (mm), therefore the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 1.02° rotation blur, is−0.165 (mm). In the intermediate focal length state, thevibration-isolation coefficient is −0.897 and the focal length is 19.1(mm), therefore the moving distance of the vibration-isolating lensgroup G32, to correct a 0.559° rotation blur, is −0.187 (mm). In thetelephoto end state, the vibration-isolation coefficient is −1.02 andthe focal length is 29.1 (mm), therefore the moving distance of thevibration-isolating lens group G32, to correct a 0.493° rotation blur,is −0.250 (mm).

Table 21 shows the data values of the variable power optical system ZL6.The surface numbers 1 to 34 in Table 21 correspond to the numbers 1 to34 in FIG. 26.

TABLE 21 Example 6 [General Data] Zoom ratio = 3.14 IntermediateWide-angle focal length Telephoto end state state end state f = 9.3~19.1~ 29.1 FNO = 1.8~ 2.5~ 2.9 2ω = 81.8~ 45.4~ 30.3 Y = 7.3~ 8.0~ 8.0TL (air 97.6~ 97.9~ 111.2 conversion length) = BF (air 13.77~ 20.21~22.17 conversion length) = [Lens Data] m r d νd nd Object plane ∞  150.656 1.60 17.98 1.94595  2 37.840 4.41 46.60 1.80400  3 233.428 D3  4* 4632.762 0.20 36.64 1.56093  5 109.440 1.50 42.73 1.83481  6 11.7046.92  7 −23.983 1.00 55.52 1.69680  8 45.374 0.84  9 52.381 4.25 28.691.79504 10 −21.378 1.30 11 −13.669 0.00 12 −13.669 0.90 49.26 1.7433013* −20.257 D13 14 0.000 0.80 Aperture stop S 15* 20.620 3.77 71.671.55332 16* −59.068 0.15 17 73.847 7.46 22.74 1.80809 18 −17.447 0.9027.57 1.75520 19 32.860 2.95 20 −133.340 0.90 23.78 1.84666 21 22.9094.14 82.57 1.49782 22 −18.768 0.50 23* 23.489 2.71 81.49 1.49710 24*−70.000 D24 25 75.360 0.80 67.90 1.59319 26 20.437 D26 27* 29.723 2.3681.49 1.49710 28 2125.803 D28 29 0.000 0.50 63.88 1.51680 30 0.000 1.1131 0.000 1.59 63.88 1.51680 32 0.000 0.30 33 0.000 0.70 63.88 1.51680 340.000 0.70 [Lens Group Focal Length] Lens group First surface Focallength First lens group 1 85.36 Second lens group 4 −14.13 Third lensgroup 15 20.88 Fourth lens group 25 −47.53 Fifth lens group 27 60.62

In this variable power optical system ZL6, Surface 4, Surface 13,Surface 15, Surface 16, Surface 23, Surface 24 and Surface 27 areaspherical. Table 22 shows aspherical data, that is, the values of theconical coefficient K and each aspherical coefficient A4 to A10.

TABLE 22 [Aspherical Data] K A4 A6 A8 A10 Surface 4 0  4.14925E−05−1.40193E−07 3.89689E−10 −2.54524E−13  Surface 13 0 −1.53196E−05−7.94859E−08 −1.88545E−11  −1.26565E−12  Surface 15 0 −9.91269E−06 7.57161E−08 3.07024E−11 0.00000E+00 Surface 16 0  3.48959E−05 8.65483E−08 0.00000E+00 0.00000E+00 Surface 23 0 −1.31286E−05−1.33696E−07 0.00000E+00 0.00000E+00 Surface 24 0 −2.92174E−06−1.15116E−07 6.91626E−11 8.78230E−13 Surface 27 0 −1.97816E−06−1.62889E−08 1.79202E−10 0.00000E+00

In the variable power optical system ZL6, the axial air distance D3between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the axialair distance D13 between the second lens group G2 and the third lensgroup G3 (aperture stop S), the axial air distance D24 between the thirdlens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4, the axial air distance D26between the fourth lens group G4 and the fifth lens group G5 and theaxial air distance D28 between the fifth lens group G5 and the filtergroup FL change upon zooming, as mentioned above. Table 23 shows thevariable distance in each focal length state of the wide-angle endstate, intermediate focal length state and telephoto end state uponfocusing on infinity.

TABLE 23 [Variable Distance Data] Wide-angle Telephoto end Intermediateend f 9.3 19.1 29.1 D3 1.20 10.52 22.40 D13 25.66 6.03 1.50 D24 1.501.61 1.50 D26 5.10 9.21 13.32 D28 9.82 16.26 18.22

Table 24 shows each conditional expression correspondence value of thevariable power optical system ZL6. In Example 6, the positive lensincluded in the vibration-isolating lens group G32 is the positive lensL36, the positive lens included in the object side group G3 a is thepositive lens L31, and the final lens group is the fifth lens group G5.

TABLE 24 [Conditional Expression Correspondence Value]  (4) νdO = 71.7 (6) fv × FNOw/f3 = 3.15  (8) f3/ΔT3 = 1.49  (9) ndVR − 0.0052 × νdVR −1.965 = −0.044 (10) νdVR = 81.49 (11) fr/fw = 6.54 (12) f3/(fw ×ft)^(1/2) = 1.27

Thus the variable power optical system ZL6 satisfies the aboveconditional expressions (4), (6), (8) to (12).

FIG. 27A, FIG. 28k and FIG. 29A are graphs showing spherical aberration,astigmatism, distortion, lateral chromatic aberration and comaaberration of the variable power optical system ZL6 upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length state,and telephoto end state, and FIG. 27B, FIG. 28B and FIG. 29B are graphsshowing coma aberration when image blur is corrected upon focusing oninfinity in the wide-angle end state, intermediate focal length stateand telephoto end state. As each graph showing aberration clarifies,various aberrations are corrected well in the variable power opticalsystem ZL6, from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto end state.

EXPLANATION OF NUMERALS AND CHARACTERS

-   1 camera (optical apparatus)-   ZL (ZL1 to ZL6) ariable power optical system-   G1 first lens group-   G2 second lens group-   G3 rear group (third lens group)-   G3 a object side group-   G3 b intermediate group-   G32 vibration-isolating lens group-   G4 fourth lens group (final lens group)-   G5 fifth lens group (final lens group)

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of PCT International Application No.PCT/JP2014/003418, filed on Jun. 26, 2014, which is hereby incorporatedby reference. This application also claims the benefit of JapanesePatent Application Nos. 2013-136678 and 2013-136679 filed in Japan onJun. 28, 2013, and Nos. 2013-237570 and 2013-237571 filed in Japan onNov. 18, 2013, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A variable power optical system comprising,in order from an object: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a thirdlens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens grouphaving positive refractive power, a distance between the first lensgroup and the second lens group, a distance between the second lensgroup and the third lens group, and a distance between the third lensgroup and the fourth lens group changing respectively upon zooming froma wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, the third lens groupincluding: an intermediate group including, in order from the object, apositive lens, a negative lens, a negative lens and a positive lens; andan image side group having negative refractive power and disposed to animage side of the intermediate group, a position of the intermediategroup with respect to an image plane being fixed and the image sidegroup moving along an optical axis upon focusing, and the followingconditional expression being satisfied:0.4<(−f2)/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<1.1 where f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, fw denotes a focal length of the variable poweroptical system in the wide-angle end state, and ft denotes a focallength of the variable power optical system in the telephoto end state.2. The variable power optical system according to claim 1, wherein thethird lens group includes an object side group having positiverefractive power and disposed to the object side of the intermediategroup.
 3. The variable power optical system according to claim 1,wherein the image side group is constituted by one negative lens.
 4. Thevariable power optical system according to claim 1, wherein the imageside group is constituted by one negative meniscus lens having a concavesurface facing the image plane.
 5. The variable power optical systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the image side group includes at least onenegative lens, and satisfies the following conditional expressions:ndF+0.0052×νdF−1.965<0νdF>60 where ndF denotes a refractive index of a medium of the negativelens included in the image side group at d-line, and νdF denotes an Abbenumber of the medium of the negative lens included in the image sidegroup.
 6. The variable power optical system according to claim 1,wherein the third lens group includes an object side group havingpositive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group, the object side group includes a positive lens, andthe following conditional expression is satisfied:νdO>60 where νdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group.
 7. The variable power optical systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the following conditional expression issatisfied:4.0<f4/fw<11.0 where f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group,and fw denotes a focal length of the variable power optical system inthe wide-angle end state.
 8. The variable power optical system accordingto claim 1, wherein the first lens group moves toward the image planefirst and then moves toward the object upon zooming from the wide-angleend state to the telephoto end state.
 9. The variable power opticalsystem according to claim 1, wherein the third lens group includes avibration-isolating lens group which is disposed to the image side ofthe intermediate group, has positive refractive power, and moves so asto have a movement component in a direction orthogonal to the opticalaxis.
 10. The variable power optical system according to claim 1,wherein the third lens group includes, in order from the object: a firstsub-group of which position with respect to the image plane is fixedupon correcting camera shake; and a second sub-group serving as avibration-isolating lens group which has positive refractive power andcan move so as to have a movement component in a direction orthogonal tothe optical axis upon correcting camera shake, and the followingconditional expression is satisfied:1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<5.0 where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lensgroup, fv denotes a focal length of the second sub-group, and FNOwdenotes an F number of the variable power optical system in thewide-angle end state.
 11. An optical apparatus comprising the variablepower optical system according to claim
 1. 12. A variable power opticalsystem comprising, in order from an object: a first lens group havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power;and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, a distancebetween the first lens group and the second lens group, a distancebetween the second lens group and the third lens group, and a distancebetween the third lens group and the fourth lens group changingrespectively upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, the third lens group including: an intermediate group including,in order from the object, a first positive lens, a first negative lens,a second negative lens and a second positive lens; and an image sidegroup having negative refractive power and disposed to an image side ofthe intermediate group, a position of the intermediate group withrespect to an image plane being fixed and the image side group movingalong an optical axis upon focusing, and the following conditionalexpressions being satisfied:−0.8<(R2a+R1b)/(R2a−R1b)<0.50.4<(−f2)/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<1.1 where R2a denotes a radius of curvature ofan image side lens surface of the first negative lens, R1b denotes aradius of curvature of an object side lens surface of the secondnegative lens, f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens group, fwdenotes a focal length of the variable power optical system in thewide-angle end state, and ft denotes a focal length of the variablepower optical system in the telephoto end state.
 13. The variable poweroptical system according to claim 12, wherein the third lens groupincludes an object side group having positive refractive power anddisposed to the object side of the intermediate group.
 14. The variablepower optical system according to claim 12, wherein the image side groupis constituted by one negative lens.
 15. The variable power opticalsystem according to claim 12, wherein the image side group isconstituted by one negative meniscus lens having a concave surfacefacing the image plane.
 16. The variable power optical system accordingto claim 12, wherein the image side group includes at least one negativelens, and satisfies the following conditional expressions:ndF+0.0052×νdF−1.965<0νdF>60 where ndF denotes a refractive index of a medium of the negativelens included in the image side group at d-line, and νdF denotes an Abbenumber of the medium of the negative lens included in the image sidegroup.
 17. The variable power optical system according to claim 12,wherein the third lens group includes an object side group havingpositive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group, the object side group includes a positive lens, andthe following conditional expression is satisfied:νdO>60 where νdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group.
 18. The variable power optical systemaccording to claim 12, wherein the following conditional expression issatisfied:4.0<f4/fw<11.0 where f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group,and fw denotes a focal length of the variable power optical system inthe wide-angle end state.
 19. The variable power optical systemaccording to claim 12, wherein the first lens group moves toward theimage plane first and then moves toward the object upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state.
 20. The variable poweroptical system according to claim 12, wherein the third lens groupincludes a vibration-isolating lens group which is disposed to the imageside of the intermediate group, has positive refractive power, and movesso as to have a movement component in a direction orthogonal to theoptical axis.
 21. The variable power optical system according to claim12, wherein the third lens group includes, in order from the object: afirst sub-group of which position with respect to the image plane isfixed upon correcting camera shake; and a second sub-group serving as avibration-isolating lens group which has positive refractive power andcan move so as to have a movement component in a direction orthogonal tothe optical axis upon correcting camera shake, and the followingconditional expression is satisfied:1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<5.0 where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lensgroup, fv denotes a focal length of the second sub-group, and FNOwdenotes an F number of the variable power optical system in thewide-angle end state.
 22. An optical apparatus comprising the variablepower optical system according to claim
 12. 23. A variable power opticalsystem comprising, in order from an object: a first lens group havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; and a rear group having positive refractive power anddisposed to an image side of the second lens group, the rear groupincluding at least a third lens group having positive refractive powerdisposed closet to the object, and a fourth lens group disposed to animage side of the third lens group, a distance between the first lensgroup and the second lens group, and a distance between the second lensgroup and the rear group changing respectively upon zooming from awide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, the third lens groupincluding: an intermediate group including, in order from the object, apositive lens, a negative lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens;and a vibration-isolating lens group having positive refractive power,disposed to an image side of the intermediate group and moving so as tohave a movement component in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis,each distance between lenses constituting the third lens group beingconstant upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto endstate, and the following conditional expression being satisfied:1.0<f3/ΔT3<2.2 where ΔT3 denotes a moving distance of the third lensgroup upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto endstate, and f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group.
 24. Thevariable power optical system according to claim 23, wherein the thirdlens group includes an object side group having positive refractivepower and disposed to the object side of the intermediate group.
 25. Thevariable power optical system according to claim 23, wherein thevibration-isolating lens group is constituted by one positive lens. 26.The variable power optical system according to claim 23, wherein thevibration-isolating lens group is constituted by one biconvex lens. 27.The variable power optical system according to claim 23, wherein thevibration-isolating lens group includes at least one positive lens, andsatisfies the following conditional expressions:ndVR+0.0052×νdVR−1.965<0νdVR>60 where ndVR denotes a refractive index of a medium of thepositive lens included in the vibration-isolating lens group at d-line,and νdVR denotes an Abbe number of the medium of the positive lensincluded in the vibration-isolating lens group.
 28. The variable poweroptical system according to claim 23, wherein the third lens groupincludes an object side group having positive refractive power anddisposed to the object side of the intermediate group, the object sidegroup includes a positive lens, and the following conditionalexpressions is satisfied:νdO>60 where vdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group.
 29. The variable power optical systemaccording to claim 23, wherein the rear group includes a plurality oflens groups, each distance between the plurality of lens groups includedin the rear group changes upon zooming from the wide-angle end state tothe telephoto end state, and a lens group closest to the image, out ofthe plurality of lens groups, is a final lens group, with the followingconditional expression being satisfied:4.0<fr/fw<11.0 where fr denotes a focal length of the final lens group,and fw denotes a focal length of the variable power optical system inthe wide-angle end state.
 30. The variable power optical systemaccording to claim 23, wherein the third lens group has positiverefractive power, a distance between the third lens group and the fourthlens group changes upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to thetelephoto end state, and the following conditional expression issatisfied:0.9<f3/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<2.0 where f3 denotes a focal length of the thirdlens group, fw denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, and ft denotes a focal length of thevariable power optical system in the telephoto end state.
 31. Thevariable power optical system according to claim 23, wherein the firstlens group moves toward an image plane first and then moves toward theobject upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto endstate.
 32. An optical apparatus comprising the variable power opticalsystem according to claim
 23. 33. A variable power optical systemcomprising, in order from an object: a first lens group having positiverefractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power;and a rear group having positive refractive power, the rear groupincluding at least a third lens group having positive refractive powerand disposed closest to the object in the rear group, and a fourth lensgroup disposed to an image side of the third lens group, a distancebetween the first lens group and the second lens group, and a distancebetween the second lens group and the rear group changing respectivelyand each distance between lenses constituting the third lens group beingconstant upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, the third lens group including, in order from the object: a firstsub-group of which position with respect to an image plane is fixed uponcorrecting camera shake; and a second sub-group serving as avibration-isolating lens group which has positive refractive power andcan move so as to have a movement component in a direction orthogonal toan optical axis upon correcting camera shake, the first sub-group havingan intermediate group including, in order from the object, a positivelens, a negative lens, a negative lens and a positive lens, and thefollowing conditional expression being satisfied:1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<4.0 where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lensgroup, fv denotes a focal length of the second sub-group, and FNOwdenotes an F number of the variable power optical system in thewide-angle end state.
 34. The variable power optical system according toclaim 33, wherein the first sub-group includes an object side grouphaving positive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group.
 35. The variable power optical system according toclaim 33, wherein the distance between the third lens group and thefourth lens group changes upon zooming from the wide-angle end state tothe telephoto end state, and the following conditional expression issatisfied:0.9<f3/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<2.0 where f3 denotes a focal length of the thirdlens group, fw denotes a focal length of the variable power opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, and ft denotes a focal length of thevariable power optical system in the telephoto end state.
 36. Thevariable power optical system according to claim 33, wherein the secondsub-group is constituted by one positive lens.
 37. The variable poweroptical system according to claim 33, wherein the second sub-group isconstituted by one biconvex lens.
 38. The variable power optical systemaccording to claim 33, wherein the second sub-group includes at leastone positive lens, and satisfies the following conditional expressions:ndVR+0.0052×νdVR−1.965<0νdVR>60 where ndVR denotes a refractive index of a medium of thepositive lens included in the second sub-group at d-line, and νdVRdenotes an Abbe number of the medium of the positive lens included inthe second sub-group.
 39. The variable power optical system according toclaim 33, wherein the first sub-group includes: an intermediate groupincluding, in order from the object, a positive lens, a negative lens, anegative lens, and a positive lens; and an object side group havingpositive refractive power and disposed to the object side of theintermediate group, the object side group includes a positive lens, andthe following conditional expression is satisfied:νdO>60 where vdO denotes an Abbe number of a medium of the positive lensincluded in the object side group.
 40. The variable power optical systemaccording to claim 33, wherein each distance between adjacent lensgroups in the rear group changes upon zooming from a wide-angle endstate to a telephoto end state, and a lens group closest to the image,out of the lens groups in the rear group, is a final lens group, withthe following conditional expression being satisfied:4.0<fr/fw<11.0 where fr denotes a focal length of the final lens group,and fw denotes a focal length of the variable power optical system inthe wide-angle end state.
 41. The variable power optical systemaccording to claim 33, wherein the first lens group moves toward theimage plane first and then moves toward the object upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state.
 42. An opticalapparatus comprising the variable power optical system according toclaim
 33. 43. A manufacturing method for a variable power optical systemwhich includes, in order from an object: a first lens group havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power;and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, the methodcomprising: disposing each lens group so that a distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, a distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, and a distance between thethird lens group and the fourth lens group change respectively uponzooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state;configuring the third lens group so as to include: an intermediate groupincluding, in order from the object, a positive lens, a negative lens, anegative lens, and a positive lens; and an image side group havingnegative refractive power and disposed to an image side of theintermediate group, and disposing the third lens group so that aposition of the intermediate group with respect to an image plane isfixed and the image side group moves along an optical axis uponfocusing; and disposing each lens group so that the followingconditional expression is satisfied:0.4<(−f2)/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<1.1 where f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, fw denotes a focal length of the variable poweroptical system in the wide-angle end state, and ft denotes a focallength of the variable power optical system in the telephoto end state.44. A manufacturing method for a variable power optical system whichincludes, in order from an object: a first lens group having positiverefractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power;a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lensgroup having positive refractive power, the method comprising: disposingeach lens group so that a distance between the first lens group and thesecond lens group, a distance between the second lens group and thethird lens group, and a distance between the third lens group and thefourth lens group change respectively upon zooming from a wide-angle endstate to a telephoto end state; configuring the third lens group so asto include: an intermediate group including, in order from the object, afirst positive lens, a first negative lens, a second negative lens, anda second positive lens; and an image side group having negativerefractive power and disposed to an image side of the intermediategroup, and disposing the third lens group so that the position of theintermediate group with respect to an image plane is fixed and the imageside group moves along an optical axis upon focusing; and satisfying thefollowing conditional expressions:−0.8<(R2a+R1b)/(R2a−R1b)<0.50.4<(−f2)/(fw×ft)^(1/2)<1.1 where R2a denotes a radius of curvature ofan image side lens surface of the first negative lens, R1b denotes aradius of curvature of an object side lens surface of the secondnegative lens, f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens group, fwdenotes a focal length of the variable power optical system in thewide-angle end state, and ft denotes a focal length of the variablepower optical system in the telephoto end state.
 45. A manufacturingmethod for a variable power optical system which includes, in order froman object: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a secondlens group having negative refractive power; and a rear group havingpositive refractive power and disposed to an image side of the secondlens group, the method comprising: disposing the first lens group, thesecond lens group, and the rear group so that a distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, and a distance between thesecond lens group and the rear group change respectively upon zoomingfrom a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state; disposing, in therear group: a third lens group having positive refractive power disposedcloset to the object, and a fourth lens group disposed to an image sideof the third lens group; disposing, in the third lens group: anintermediate group including, in order from the object, a positive lens,a negative lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens; and avibration-isolating lens group having positive refractive power,disposed to an image side of the intermediate group and moving so as tohave a movement component in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis;disposing the third lens group such that each distance between lensesconstituting the third lens group is constant upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state; and disposing the thirdlens group such that the following conditional expression is satisfied:1.0<f3/ΔT3<2.2 where ΔT3 denotes a moving distance of the third lensgroup upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto endstate, and f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group.
 46. Amanufacturing method for a variable power optical system which includes,in order from an object: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; and a reargroup having positive refractive power, the method comprising:disposing, in the rear group, at least a third lens group havingpositive refractive power and disposed closest to the object in the reargroup, and a fourth lens group; disposing the first lens group, thesecond lens group, and the rear group so that a distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, and a distance between thesecond lens group and the rear group change respectively, and eachdistance between lenses constituting the third lens group is constantupon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state;disposing, in the third lens group and in order from the object: a firstsub-group of which position with respect to an image plane is fixed uponcorrecting camera shake; and a second sub-group serving as avibration-isolating lens group which has positive refractive power andcan move so as to have a movement component in a direction orthogonal toan optical axis upon correcting camera shake, the first sub-group havingan intermediate group including, in order from the object, a positivelens, a negative lens, a negative lens and a positive lens; andsatisfying the following conditional expression:1.5<fv×FNOw/f3<4.0 where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lensgroup, fv denotes a focal length of the second sub-group, and FNOwdenotes an F number of the variable power optical system in thewide-angle end state.